DD is not 5 until the end of April and I am keen that she stays part time at school until she is of the compulsory age. She is finding 3 full days and two half days very tiring (only started doing this during the last few weeks of term) so I don't think she is ready for a 32 hour week (what four year old is?). Also she is not finding the afternoons (or much of it, truth be told) that stimulating and we do lots at home anyway. I even think the hours she is doing now are too much for such a young child and am considering her doing less. My question is_ if you had the choice, how many hours would you have your child in school? Do you think the 32 hour week is too much for four and five year olds? Do you think it is right that the teachers see more of your child than the parents? I feel that four and five year olds still need a lot of contact with their parents and we should be their role models. They are still very young children and the first six years are the formative years - very important to get right!
I think these years should be about building self esteem and confidence and teaching children how to interact with other children (sharing, playing together and looking after each other). The emphasis should be on the emotional and social skills needed for children to become happy, well adjusted adults with curiosity and a love of learning. Unfortunately the focus is on reading and writing in this country and there is little time for children to do much else. Therefore I am going to have to help my daughter with these skills outside the classroom!