We all know that we are moving to children starting school at 3 why? It is well known that 5 is possibly too early anyway if we look at Europe they start later and achieve more.
The early year’s pre-5 schooling has mainly been provided by the Community Sector and local authorities buying places and services from them because it is cheaper and better equipped to deliver nursery provision that Ofsted has constantly praised.
So if Education budgets are under pressure now and staffing difficult to find and provide, as many schools stay open with unqualified Teaches (e.g. Greenwich has a unqualified teaches percentage of 40% others have more) how will local authorities cope?
Tony Pretty
Education, Community & Youth Consultant