Could someone please explain the English school system?

[macmama73]

My DD's kindergarten teacher (in Germany) is doing a college course and has a project about the differences between German schools and British schools.

Have read a bit about reception class/Primary 1 here on MN, but am still unsure of a few points:

1. What is the emphasis, learning or playing?

2. Should the children be able to read/write at the end of reception?

3. How much time do the children spend on activities such as crafts, sport, singing...

4. They start at 4? And before that? Do most kids go to nursery?

5. How large are the classes?

6. Is this system going to be adopted in Scotland too?

Any information would be great. Thanks

I'm no teacher but I think

1. Prob learning by the time they are in Reception but quite a lot of learning through play. 2)?? I'd guess yes in a limited fashion there is a set of words that children in Reception/year 1 etc are supposed to be able to recognise. They can be found on line/here or if you look at catalogues eg GLTC they come as fridge magnets. 3)??
2. Start reception in term before 5th birthday but some areas have one intake a year some 2 (poss some 3?). I think legally only obliged to go either the term they are 5 or the term after (but in practice most people have to start when offered/usual for their area because of spaces) I suspect most go to nursery before reception especially now there is nursery education grant (money paid directly to private nurseries for 2.5 hrs 5 times a week for 33 or 38 weeks in the year from term after 3 up until start school (I recently learnt from here it's longer if school is private!!)NB doesn't often cover the 2.5 hours if private nursery.
3. General limit is 30 for 1 teacher and 1 TA but can be exceeded. 6)??HTH but suggest you wait for a couple of other replies to make sure we're all saying the same thing

In DS's school would be:

1. Learning through play.
2. Most of them read before they get to Reception
3. Not sure really, but he brings colouring/painting works home every day, sport class twice a week (although bikes and scooters are provided during free times in the gardens and they are taken for a countryside walk every second week) , musicianship classes once a week
4. All children go to nursery, at least part time.
5. 15-16 children per class
6. No idea about Scotland but apparently DS's school head teacher is very involved with the ministry of education to instigate simmilar programs nationally.

I'm not sure how representative this is, but hope it helps.

1. What is the emphasis, learning or playing? playing since the introduction of the early years system- reception seen as an extension of Nursery provision

2. Should the children be able to read/write at the end of reception? Usually no, but some schools (ours for example) are exceptions and do try to attempt this result. These schools are often state, but additionally funded schools (where another body, usually religious, contributes to funding) ime

3. How much time do the children spend on activities such as crafts, sport, singing... In Reception, themajority, although again it varies- at ds's school they pray / worship 5 times a day for example

4. They start at 4? And before that? Do most kids go to nursery?
   the law is that they have to start by the term after their 5th birthday, in practive its 4 for most children as many schools do not allow staggerd start dates and September is the start of the natinal school year. Most kids attend nursery but there are a variety of provisions- from 2.5 play based sessions to pre-schools atatched to schools, independent nurseries, Montessori and Steiner facillities, etc. All kids get 2.5 hours X 5 a week free from (iirc) the term after they turn 3- this is often used towards daycare

5. How large are the classes?
   30 is supposed to be the largest, it varies- schools of 6 or so a year were common in the country but gradually seem to be phased out.

What others said, only would add:

2 -- Expected to Read/write some things at END of reception. Some children can't even read their own names when they start.
3 -- Crafts and singing get incorporated into a lot of other activities (such as literacy, science). Formal sport is dictated by national curriculum (3 hrs PE / wk). Religious education/Personal-social development is 1-2 hrs/week, too, and often done in Assembly at this age. Singing religious songs is common, for instance, as part of RE.
4 -- Most children attend preschool age 3-4, as it is free up to 12.5 hrs/week.
6 -- Scotland will continue to have different, separate and own strong education history, traditions and management.

Find a copy of the National Curriculum guidelines for England-Welsh schools. This is modified for Reception age, but roughly what to follow.

Thanks for your replies, will be a great help for my DD kindergarten teacher.

She could also have a look at the Standards site (for National Curriculum) and in particular the Foundation Stage Profile which has specific scales of achievement by the end of Reception.