Potential for teachers’ boycott of testing for four-year-olds

The news this morning reports that teachers have moved a step closer to boycotting the introduction of tests for four-year-olds in school. The new measure of assessment is set to start in schools in England in 2016. Teachers across the country have spoken out in disagreement, many stating that this kind of early years testing could, and will be detrimental to children’s development. Emphasis has been placed on the need for learning through play at such a young age, with teachers citing evidence for the fact that this kind of formal learning has a negative, rather than positive, effect on children below a certain age.

The National Union of Teachers’ conference in Brighton voted to "investigate the possibility of a mass campaign of principled non-compliance with any policies that erode children’s right to play in the early years”. Views that this kind of testing will push children into formal learning too early mean that a boycott has now become a realistic possibility.

Members of the NUT have highlighted the importance of things such as "Being confident, independent and curious” in early years development. It’s believed that factors such as these are as important as, if not more important than academic learning.

The testing has been opposed to on a serious level, with teachers urging the union to "pro-actively look for ways of preventing our members being in a position where they damage children”.

It’s an interesting debate and one that we’re interested in here at STM, due to our work with primary schools across the UK. We’ve been working in the education sector for years, developing a playground surface system that encourages learning through play. With this turn towards more official testing of children at such a young age, we’d love to find out the views of others. Is formal learning and testing a good idea for four-year-olds? Or should emphasis still remain with learning through play?

Tweet us @SyntheticTurfM to let us know your views, whether your a parent, a teacher, or anyone else with an opinion to express!