England
Each child in England at the first school term after their third birthday is entitled to 15 hours per week free childcare funding and are taught via Early Learning Goals. You are required by law to make sure your child begins education from the beginning of school term after he or she turns five years old. However, children normally start Reception class from the September after their 4th birthday.
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State schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland follow a national curriculum which offers a standardised content to teaching and assessment. In this way, teaching is broken down into the Early Years Foundation Stage and five Key Stages with assessment at the end of each.
Schools can either be divided into infant school, which refers to the teaching of Key Stage 1, primary school which refers to the teaching of Key Stage 1 & 2, or junior school which refers to the teaching of Key Stage 2. In this way, your child may stay in the same school throughout his or her pre-primary and primary education, or move after infant school. Schools may also have a nursery attached.
Early Years
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) refers to the learning, development and care of children from birth to five years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes.
They are taught mainly through playing games.
Assessment
Children are assessed between the ages of two and three and at the end of the academic year when they turn five. The information gained from these assessments can then be used by teachers, parents and other practitioners to support the child's learning and development.
A child's learning concentrates of seven areas of learning (Early Learning Goals) split between prime:
- communication & language
- physical development
- personal, social and emotional development
and specific:
- literacy
- maths
- understanding the world
- expressive arts & design
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 1 refers to the first two years of primary school when your child is between the ages of 5-7 and are often called Years 1 and 2. They are taught the compulsory subjects of:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Design Technology
- History
- Geography
- Art & Deisgn
- Music
- PE, including swimming
- Information & Communication Technology
Schools must also provide religious education, however as a parent you can choose for your children to opt out of it.
Schools also often teach:
- Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
- Citizenship
- Modern Foreign Languages
Assessment
Phonics screening check
This test takes place in the June of Year 1 and your child wil have to read 40 words out loud to a teacher. You'll find out how well they did and whether they need extra help. If they don't do well enough they'll have to complete the check again in Year 2.
Key Stage 1
Children are given a number of tests and tasks at a time determined by the school. You child's teacher uses your child's, including spoken and homework, to work out what level your child is at in each area. The results are mainly for the benefit of the teacher and school, however you can ask for you child's results, and the tests and tasks cover:
- reading
- writing
- speaking & listening
- maths
- science
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 refers to four years of primary school (sometimes this will take place in a junior school or middle school) when your child is between the ages of 8-11 and are often called Years 3-6. They are taught the compulsory subjects of:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Information & Communication Technology
- Design Technology
- History
- Geography
- Art & Design
- Music
- Physical Education
- Religious Education
- Modern or Ancient Foreign Language
Assessment
Key Stage 2 tests (colloquially known as SATs) are taken in mid-May and last approximately 5 and a half hours with results coming out in July. If your child is demonstrating high achivement then they may be put in for extra tests. The tests are marked externally and the results for each school is published. The test covers:
- English reading
- English grammar, punctuation and spelling
- maths
Scotland
In Scotland, children are entitled to a place in a nursery class when they reach their third birthday. This give parents the option of two years of funded pre-school education before beginning primary one, the first year of compulsory education. Nursery children who are three years old are referred to as ante-pre-school, while those who are four years old are referred to as pre-school.
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Curriculum Overview
The Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is Scotland’s curriculum for children aged 3 to 18. It replaces 'A Curriculum Framework for Children 3 to 5' and the 5-14 curriculum, and aims to ensure that all children and young people in Scotland develop the attributes, knowledge and skills they will need to flourish in life, learning and work.
The knowledge, skills and attributes learners will develop will allow them to demonstrate four key capacities – to be successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
The CfE framework provides guidelines about the curriculum, but schools and colleges are given the flexibility to organise, schedule and deliver experiences and outcomes in ways that meet the needs of all learners, but also provides reassurance about consistency where necessary.
Curriculum Levels in Pre-primary and Primary Years
The CfE offers a broad general education. The experiences and outcomes of the CfE describe the expectations for learning and progression in all areas of the curriculum. They are defined at six levels with three of these at the pre-primary and primary levels.
| Level | Stage |
|---|
| Early |
The pre-school years and Primary 1, but earlier or later for some. |
| First |
To the end of Primary 4 (P4), but earlier or later for some. |
| Second |
To the end of Primary 7 (P7), but earlier or later for some. |
The path most children are expected to follow reflects their stages of maturation and the changing ways in which they engage with learning as they develop. Some children and young people will start learning at these levels earlier and others later, depending upon individual needs and aptitudes. It is the responsibility of schools and their partners to bring the experiences and outcomes together and apply these to design programmes for learning across eight curriculum areas of science, languages, mathematics, social studies (including Scottish history), expressive arts, health and wellbeing, religious and moral education, and technology.
Early Years
The early level of CfE spans pre-school and primary as it is designed to meet the needs of most children from 3 years until the end of Primary 1 (P1). The core message of CfE for early year learning relates to the importance of:
- active, experiential learning
- a holistic approach to learning
- a smooth transition
- learning through play
Education Scotland and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS), now known as the Care Inspectorate are the two bodies that responsible for the regulation and inspection of early years services in Scotland.
Education Scotland designs their inspection in accordance with the ten underlying principles outlined in the 'Principles of Inspection and Review', thus ensuring that inspections are independent, responsive, fair and open.
Education Scotland inspects and reports on the quality of education in voluntary and private pre-school centres, nursery schools and family centres and nursery classes within schools. Her Majesty's (HM) Inspectors carry out inspections in those pre-school centres which are funded to provide pre-school education for children aged 3 to 5 years.
Following an inspection by HM Inspectors, Education Scotland publishes a letter to parents telling them about the quality of educational provision the pre-school centre offers.
The Care Inspectorate is the independent regulator of a wide range of care, social work services and child protection services, including childcare. The Care Inspectorate regulates services by inspecting them against the relevant legislation and National Care Standards.
Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of learning and teaching. It helps to provide an emerging picture of a young person’s learning and achievements as he or she develops across the four capacities - to be successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors..
Unlike England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland does not assess primary and secondary students in Key Stages, and there are no Standard Attaintment Tests (SATs). Teachers assess constantly as part of daily learning and teaching. They do this, for example, by watching and listening to learners carrying out tasks, by looking at what they write and make, and by considering how they answer questions. They get to know their learners well, build up a profile of their progress, strengths and needs and involve them in planning what they need to learn next.
From time to time teachers also take stock of their learners' progress and achievements in order to be able to plan ahead and to record and report on progress.
Wales
Early years education in Wales is provided half-time for children aged 3-4 (nursery) and full-time for those between the ages of 4 and 5 years (reception). Nursery education is provided following the term after a child's third birthday.
Schooling is divided into the Foundation Phase, which covers pupils from the age of 3-7 and Key Stage 2, which covers pupils from the ages of 7-11. Wales follows a national curriculum which offers a standardised content to teaching and assessment.
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Foundation Phase
The Foundation Phase covers school children aged 3-7 and is based on the principle that early years' provision should offer a sound foundation for future learning through a developmentally appropriate curriculum. The framework sets out seven Areas of Learning:
- Personal and Social Development, Well-Being and Cultural Diversity
- Language, Literacy and Communication Skills
- Mathematical Development
- Welsh Language Development
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development
And these outline what a child should be taught and their expected outcomes.
Children are given opportunities to understand hoe things work by taking part in practical activities that are relevant to their developmental stage. They are challenged with open-ended questions and given opportunities to explore and share their ideas for solving problems.
Children are given time to develop their speaking and listening skills, and to become confident in their reading and writing abilities.
The curriculum focuses on learning experiences, active involvement and developing each child's:
- creative, expressive and observational skills to encourage their development as individuals
- personal, social, emotional, physical and intellectual well-being to develop the whole child
- positive attitudes to learning so that they enjoy it and want to continue
- self-esteem and self-confidence to experiment, investigate, learn new things and form new relationships
- activities in the outdoors where they have first-hand experience of solving real-life problems, and learn about conservation and sustainability
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 refers to four years of primary school years (also available in junior school or middle school) when your child is between the ages of 8-11 and are often called Years 3-6. They are taught the compulsory subjects of:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Information & Communication Technology
- Design Technology
- History
- Geography
- Art & Design
- Music
- Physical Education
- Religious Education
- Modern or Ancient Foreign Language
Assessment
Key Stage 2 tests (colloquially known as SATs) are taken in mid-May and last approximately 5 and a half hours with results coming out in July. If your child is demonstrating high achivement then they may be put in for extra tests. The tests are marked externally and the results for each school is published. The test covers:
- English reading
- English grammar, punctuation and spelling
- maths
Northern Ireland
A child's age on 1st July determines the point of entry into the relevant stage of education. In Northern Ireland funded Nursery School places can be applied for from ages three and up.
Northern Ireland follows a national curriculum similar to that used in England and Wales which offers a standardised content to teaching and assessment.
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Foundation Stage
Key Stage 1 refers to when a child is between the ages 3-5. Pupils follow a programme of education in seven areas or learning:
- Language & Literacy
- Maths & Numeracy
- The Arts
- The World Around Us
- Personal Development & Mutual Understanding
- Physical Development & Movement
- Religious Education
Assessment
Assessment is seen as a feedback process to help children learn and inform the the learning programme for each child. Observations are made throughout the year by teachers and classroom assistants.
Key Stage 1
Years 3-4 between the ages of 5-7.
Pupils follow a programme of education in the six areas of learning in the curriculum:
- Language & Literacy
- Maths & Numeracy
- The Arts
- The World Around Us
- Personal Development & Mutual Understanding
- Physical Education
Key Stage 2
Years 5-7 when your child will be between the ages of 7-11.
Pupils follow a programme of education in the six areas of learning in the curriculum:
- Language & Literacy
- Maths & Numeracy
- The Arts
- The World Around Us
- Personal Development & Mutual Understanding
- Physical Education
- Modern Foreign Languages
Primary school students do not taka any external assessments, however Year 7 would be the time in which you would look at entering your child to grammar school for their secondary education. For more information, please see our types of schools.
