While there is widespread agreement about the importance of early years education, there is a fundamental difference of approach between, on the one hand, preparing children for life, and on the other, preparing them for school.
Giving children the right start
By Mike Baker
Education correspondent, BBC News
Are we giving our children the right sort of educational start in life?
This week school inspectors from Ofsted had some tough words to say about the failure of nurseries, children's centres and infant schools in England to develop literacy and calculation skills amongst three to five-year-olds.
They also told us that - even at this tender age - girls are pulling ahead of boys.
But should we be measuring the educational standards achieved by children this young?
Isn't it time to give the boys a break?
Why give them the impression that they, or girls for that matter, are falling behind before they have reached five years old?
Children in the UK already start school earlier than in most other European countries.
Yet most international experts say starting formal education too early is damaging.
Perhaps there is a link here with the recent Unicef report that suggested British children were bottom of the table for international happiness and well-being?
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