Schools

[Borlotti]

Do you think children should start school at six.  A lot of children are ready for part time school at four, but it should be learning through playing. I think junior school should be fun and not so much to do with SATS.  My granddaughter has just gone through SATS, although I must admit she quite enjoyed it, and now at secondary school but does get tried as she has to get up early, a long walk to school and all the different people and lessons and gets a lot of homework.  Also football training and football matches against other schools in a coach and late back to school, then homework, not much time for eating or playing.  I think they should be children until they are 14, then work hard for the exams at 16.  I think that children who have spent 6 years at school and can't read when they go to secondary school there must something wrong.  Learning should be fun and read street signs, tube stations, sauce bottles everything to children but don't make it such hard work.  I really think if they have trouble with reading they should be put back a year and given extra help or the harder work they are given they will not be capable of.

[Borlotti]

[Georgie]

I'll watch this thread with interest.  I cannot possibly comment being from the Ministry. ;)

G x

[betula]

My children started school at 5.

I think 4 is much to early.6 sounds about right to me.

I think 4 is much to early to face the world,precious time better used in play.

[grannyjanny]

After having three girls go through the education system, with all the trials & tribulations I came to the conclusion that school is one reason not to have children.

[thifasmom]

my eldest was homeschooled till last year when she decided she wanted to try school. she started the new school year at the age of 8 one month before her ninth b/day and as much as i wish she had stayed at home I'm glad she entered the system at the age she did. she learned to read when she was ready at the age of seven and is still baffled by how kids who have been going to school since four cannot read or write properly in her yr5 class.

she is also more comfortable with herself and her individuality within the 'crowd'. so though i don't think school is for kids per se i do think that if it needs be it should certainly be for older kids and not under tens.

just my 2 cents :).

[macmac]

  I think kids absorb learning you don't have to teach,just engage them in any subject and they soak it up.When I was little my dad had the 6 o'clock news on the tv and I had to "shush" but I now seem to know the regional geography of the uk simply by the bbc newsman signing off his location ,I didn't know I was learning but I was .I think start at 5 but have a couple of years just getting to know school,kids,dinners teach them without teaching- if that makes sense ???We have a 13 year old grandchild who gets the weight of a small country in homework so don't start them too early :)

[saddad]

Having been in secondary for 25 years it makes a lot of sense to me...  :-X

[Jeanbean]

My granson age just 3 has learnt tons by the things that he likes. He is mad about cars and only needs to see a make and model and ask what is is and next time he names it without thinking. He has no hard and fast teaching just through his play. Counting to 20 by counting his cars, naming colours and shapes. He will start school next September- one month after his 4th bithday. Far too early. The schools need to revert to more intakes a year and start children the term before their 5th birthday. Why do we need our children to grow up so fast? Could this be the reason for the problems amongst the young? Are they suffering for spending too little time at home being taught first how to be reasonably nice kids. Learn through play by all means but not structured teaching, they are still so little and must get quite tired by this. Let the children be children.