Expectations for primary school - what should a child be able to do??

[wishingchair]

Hi all - could do with your advice. I asked the head of dd's 'class' at nursery last night whether they taught reading and writing and she said no. DD is 3 and so is in the pre-school bit of her nursery (she goes there 3 days a week when I'm at work). It's a great nursery and is OFSTED inspected.
I had just assumed that they would teach this so I asked her what the expectations are for children when they start primary school. She said that schools like children to be able to recognise their own full name and write it if possible, count to 10, recognise the numbers 1 - 10, but mostly they like children to be equipped from a social side. Able to go to the toilet on their own, dress themselves, share, sit still, listen to instructions that kind of stuff. She said if we taught them how to read and write, they'd be bored in the first year of school.
If I think back to my pre-school education, I went to a play group and we definitely didn't learn to read or write there. Must ask my mum if she taught me. DH says he knows he couldn't read or write when he started school. I guess that because pre-school is not mandatory so first year at school has to be able to accommodate children who can and those that can't. I'm quite glad if this is the case and there is no expectation from schools for these skills, as these years of just fun and play are very short and precious, and they'll have years of classroom study ahead of them, but I have no idea of what a primary school expects a child to be able to do hence my request for experienced advice!

[mszebra]

There are a few other threads like this going.
Basically your nursery head is right.

[singersgirl]

Self-help skills are most important - dressing and undressing (we did lots of socks practice), toilet wiping and handwashing, opening lunchboxes and packets etc.

And, of course, confident leave-taking from parents/carers!