Groups petitioning for changes to compulsory school age & flexi schooling

[Thetherapyshed]

Does anyone know of any groups petitioning for changes to the uk education system? We know that children thrive when spending their formative years with their primary carers and small group settings. Many children are not ready for a prolonged separation at 4.5-5 years old and flexi-schooling should be offered to those who want to continue to care for their children at home beyond compulsory school age. Furthermore, in many countries children don’t start until the age of 7 and the outcomes academically are no different to those who start at 5. However, what is different, is their future mental health. The evidence that learning through free flow, child led play until 7 is better for the child’s mental health is unequivocal.

The system here is focused on getting parents to work and not on what’s best for our children. It is archaic and we have so much evidence to support change is needed.

We also know that in many of those countries where compulsory education begins at 6-7, it's highly unlikely that the child hasn't done 3 full years of pre-school that includes learning to read and write when they begin primary.

Don't we?

We have looked at the charts comparing countries and seen that what children do at ages 4,5,6,7 etc is basically the same despite the name of the school - so what a British child does at age 5 is exactly the same as, say, a French or Italian child. Just that the former do it in primary while the latter in pre-school.

And we've worked out how "primary carers" are going to manage not to go to work.

And we've got a plan to overhaul the pre-school system to bring it in line with those numerous systems mentioned above.

Haven't we?

If so, then crack on.

School based education isn't compulsory. If you want to home educate your 5/6 year old child, feel free to do so.

You can send your child as part time as you like (flexi schooled) up until the term after their 5th birthday, when it is then up to the head. Honestly with the funding issues, it’s surely going to be more appealing to heads. Same amount of funding as a full time student but they aren’t there all the time so more can go on other things.
As mentioned above, the only real differences are that it’s called preschool or kindergarten rather than primary. BUT I do think for Reception-Year 2, the hours ought to be reduced. I think 5 full days is an awful lot for EYFS& infant school children. I believe even in countries as close as Ireland, the school day is not as long for young children. I know this is the case in Germany too.

@CustardCreamsnTea
Unfortunately, the funding doesn't quite work like that. You would still have to pay for a full time class teacher, they don't get paid less because they have 30 children Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 29 on Tuesday and Thursday! Given around 85% of school funding goes on salaries and the majority of the rest on fixed service costs, the school will only " save" a minuscule amount on consumables. Also, who is responsible for the learning missed on Tuesday and Thursday? Who is going to ensure that the flexi schooled child " catches up " or doesn't miss out on some aspects/topics.

We also know that in many of those countries where compulsory education begins at 6-7, it's highly unlikely that the child hasn't done 3 full years of pre-school that includes learning to read and write when they begin primary.

I would also be interested to know if the OP realises this. It's confusing when people use the other countries don't start school until X Y Z age as an argument. Do they think these children just stay at home and play all day?

I think there is a case for a play led curriculumn until 7. But the rest I'm not fussed about.

^^ This

I lived in a country where school starts at 6 but most kids went to kindergarten and teachers would help the kids keen on learning to write, how to write their names etc
When they start school, the speed at which they learn the alphabet is very fast. Not sure that the gentle speed of Reception phonics learning is a bad thing.

I imagine Finland will soon be trotted out.
Because of course successive British govts have valued the role of BOTH parents as parents AND workers just as much as Finland and just as much funding and prioritising has gone into pre-school education. And British parents all encourage reading and watching TV in a foreign language etc etc.

Or maybe not...

So the teacher is paid more if they’ve got a class of 30 over say 23?
I thought it was the same regardless.

Think your nearest school is your best school there too.
No private schools.
The government and education system are completely different. We’d need a huge overhaul to mimic their system and I don’t think there’s any politically party keen to do that.
I don’t think even reducing the school hours for Reception-Year 2 would ever happen because there would be too much upset about needing childcare.

The teacher is paid the same. The school recieves funding per pupil. Full classes are good for schools as they cover the cost of the teacher but also can fund the head teacher office staff consumables utilities senco time lunch supervisors TAs.

@CustardCreamsnTea

I did say " they DONT get paid " differently based on the number in the class. So, the school doesn't save any money by having a child flexi schooling.

I think 5 full days is an awful lot for EYFS& infant school children. I believe even in countries as close as Ireland, the school day is not as long for young children. I know this is the case in Germany too.

In Ireland children start between the ages of 4.5 to 6 - it's up to parents. The start age is trending upwards, a February/March born child is now more likely to start at 5 5 than 4.5.
There are two years of half-day playschool available prior to starting school.

Primary school runs for 8 years.
Typical school day for the first two years in primary school is 9am - 1.40pm (for ages 5 and 6 approx). For the next 6 years it's 9am - 2.40pm approx. Exact times vary depending on the school.

I made zero remark as to which gendered parent would care for the child. I am a child psychotherapist and I work from home which allows me to work around parenting as does my husband. He is also self employed and works part time. Furthermore I have two sets of involved and educated grandparents whom my child benefits from 1-2-1 time with. All I am suggesting is that people in my situation who want an extra year or so with their children should be able to without being forced to decided between full time home ed or full time school.

Your comment is so unnecessarily combative.

Finally, I asked if anyone knew of any organisations working towards some change. I did not ask for or invite such aggression.

If no one actually knows of anyone I can close the thread and, as you so delicately articulated "put my pinny back on."

My issue is that I work part time, I can't home ed. but I would like to be able to collect my child at lunchtime as I have with nursery.

Exactly! For a child to be away from parents more than their with them before 5 years is hard. I'm planning on keeping him home part time until compulsory school age but wish this was for the whole of reception really.

I fully appreciate some people have to work full time but I know an awful lot who don't and would like the freedom to flexi school.

This is an important point thank you. I suppose my main point is for reception year where not much learning is missed as it's still very free flowing.

Do you not think children learn during free-flow?

I remember feeling stressed about starting my little one at school. If it helps they have 175 days at home v 190 in school. The day does feel long but I do think many still spend similar hours awake at home as in school.

Absolutely they do. I think what is neglected is that when a child is interested in a topic or skills they master it so much faster than if they're taught it before this. My son was fascinated with the alphabet at 20 months and learned the whole thing immediately. However, he had no interest in riding a scooter until last week and then mastered it straight away. I could have tried to teach him endlessly but waiting for his interest makes it enjoyable and quick!!

Thank you!

Then your own family situation has you looking at all of this from rather a high pedestal of privilege.

Which might need checking.

The maths and phonics is still taught in a very structured way in reception, meaning that where children start halfway through the year and don't already know these concepts/sounds before school (probably the majority) they miss the building blocks for the rest of the year