There is an issue beyond those above.
What we have here is a single State educational philosophy being imposed on all children, from Birth to 5 years, whatever their parents' views may be. It is a most massive breach of Human Rights.
Beverley Hughes, the Minister determined to make her mark on Early Years education before she is shifted to another post, justifies this epitaph by insisting that the EYFS legislation is 'flexible' and caters to all philosophical persuasions.
Sorry, Ms Hughes, you are unable to think outside your philosophical box, which knows no other reality than "earlier means better" and legislates to make this single approach compulsory for all children from Birth to 5. Independent schools are, fortunately, still free to have their own curriculum and philosophy, but this freedom is suddenly denied to the under 5's. On what grounds such totalitarian compulsion for the under 5's. Why isn't the National Curriculum compulsory as well? Why hesitate?
The Key Stage 1 pressures which Primary School children are struggling with, EYFS now introduces soon after Birth! Scotland and Wales have wisely chosen not to be subject to this draconian legislation. Why is Ms Hughes making it necessary for parents to leave England in order to be able to educate their children under a different philosophy?