15th April 2015 8:00
By Blue Tutors
Top educationalists, psychologists and children’s writers have joined together to speak out against plans to introduce tests for four and five year olds in their first weeks at primary school. The tests, known as baseline assessments, are to be introduced in selected schools in September. They will assess children’s basic skills including their ability to count and recognise letters and numbers. Under the proposals, the tests will be rolled out across the whole country by 2016. The plans have received heavy criticism from many sources, who say that they are unnecessary, and potentially damaging to children.
In an open letter to the Guardian, educationalists, developmental psychologists and writers have raised concerns that the tests will formalise a “testing culture” from an early age. They argue this approach to education will be dangerous to children, damaging their development, causing anxiety and taking the fun out of education. The signatories also noted that the results of the tests would be statistically invalid, and be used to judge children, teachers and schools. Prominent writer and psychologist Penelope Leach added her name to the critics of the proposal, arguing that the tests would be unreliable and disruptive.
The National Union of Teachers is due to debate their position on baseline testing in the coming week. A motion has been brought calling for an overhaul of primary education which does not rely on heaving testing and narrow parameters. NUT delegates will be voting on whether to take part in a proposed boycott of the tests. Proponents of the boycott are expected to argue that early years education should remain a safe haven where learning is child-centred, and play is a key part of the educational process.