Starting school at four ‘can cause lasting damage’

OUTDOOR play, music and storytelling are essential ingredients of early childhood development according to a leading educational expert who believes children should not start school at age four.

Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood and 21st Century Boys, believes starting school too young can cause lasting damage to children.

“If they are not ready for formal education, sending them too young is likely to turn them off, especially boys who need to do a lot of running and climbing.

“We are focusing too much on formal education and not paying enough attention to their emotional and social development,” Ms Palmer said.

The former teacher and school principal-turned author, broadcaster and children’s education consultant, argues many children aren’t ready developmentally to start formal learning so young. Ms Palmer warns early difficulties at school can set children up for long-term failure, particularly where family circumstances are poor.

“If they come from disadvantaged homes, early failure can easily lock them into a pathway ofacademic under-achievement at school, which has long-term repercussions for their self-confidence and for their eventual job prospects,” Ms Palmer said.

Ms Palmer does not favour putting the emphasis on reading and writing at too young an age.

“There can be too much focus put on children being literate, on reading and writing rather than the spoken language, but talking gets them ready for literacy.

“What young children need is plenty of play, particularly outdoor play, singing, stories, all these things help their emotional, social and cognitive development.

“I would place great store by all these things, in letting them follow their own interests.”

Ms Palmer, who will share her views at a public event at Queen’s University Belfast today entitled The School Starting Age – Too Much Too Soon For Four Year Olds’, will argue that the Scandinavian model of schooling, where children do not begin formal education until age six or seven, is the most appropriate.

Northern Ireland is the only place in Europe where children are required to commence formal education at primary school level at four years old.

“For example, in Finland children attend kindergarten between three and seven. Kindergarten is based on a child’s development rather than explicit educational needs,” Ms Palmer said.

The seminar will also hear from an education expert, Professor Peter Tymms, whose research in Scotland has concluded there appears to be no optimum age for starting school.