Should children start school at 2?

There are set to be tougher check on nurseries, with Ofsted saying that children could be sent to school at a much earlier age.

The head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has spoken about his concerns that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are not receiving enough Early Years education before they start school, and that the gap between them and their peers is too large.

He believes that children do better in school based provision – in a school based nursery with a discreet early years classroom which teaches them the skills they need to start school.  Sir Michael also spoke out about how Ofsted intend to be tougher on nurseries and early years settings which do not teach these basic skills, and of how he believes that children should be enrolled in a school from the age of 2.

Is this right? Can a 2 year old really be expected to be learning the social and educational skills appropriate for starting school, or should a child of that age just be learning to play?

Of course, play is a huge and important part of a child’s development at that age. Alongside that, we can also teach our very young children basic learning skills, such as counting, colours, sharing. But I don’t believe this should be the main focus at this age.  Learning through play comes naturally to children – they explore how nature works by being outside playing in the mud, they learn about texture by touching paint and sand, they learn about socialising by playing alongside other children. Yes we can encourage that – but should we be getting our children ‘school ready’ at 2? No, I don’t think so. There is plenty of time for that, and our children are only little for such a short time. Let’s not push them too fast.

What are your thoughts on this proposal? Would you like to see a more education focused Early Years? Or do you think that things are just fine the way they are? Would love to hear your thoughts.