20th November 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
The head of Ofsted recently said that children should start school as young as two years old in order to give them a head start. The government should be directing resources towards ensuring that there are places at school for two and three year olds, a plan which would see students in school from aged two to eighteen. The idea behind ‘all-through’ schooling is that it would make British students more competitive in an international market, and ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are receiving support from school early on. But is starting school so early the way to go? Currently the government provides places for students aged four and above, and some schools are prepared to take three year olds. Competing for school places, especially at a younger age, is becoming increasingly common, especially at the county’s best grammar and selective primary schools.
Parents are finding that if they want their child to attend a selective primary school, their child will often have to take an exam at aged three or four. This has led to an alarming rise in the number of private tuition requests for children aged two to four years old, with many parents wanting to ensure that their child receives a head start. Tuition agencies are now receiving requests for English, Maths and Science for two and three year olds, and there are tutors out there who are willing to tutor young children. Some parents are even requesting tuition in classical studies and languages; tutors have been asked to teach Latin to three year olds, while other parents want language tutors to ensure that their children grow up bilingual.
I have a simple message for tutors: Please do not take on very young children. The question that all tutors should ask themselves before taking on a new client is as follows: ‘Do I think that this student receiving tuition from me is in their best interests?’ I think there are very few cases where tutors can ask themselves that question of a two year old student and believe the answer is yes. I do not teach young students – in fact I prefer to stick to degree level and A’ Level where possible – but if a parent approached me about tuition for their toddler, I would suggest allowing them space to play, and reading to them rather than French language instruction… Of course, tutors refusing to work with toddlers doesn’t solve the fact that some parents and government ministers believe that academic education should start as soon as possible. While primary schools continue to give toddlers entrance exams, and Ofsted fights for children to start school at two, we are fighting a losing battle.