PRE-SCHOOL AND PRIMARY EDUCATION

Within the traditional family pattern dominant in Britain through the whole 19th century and well into the 20th, women were not encouraged to go out to work. Little wonder then that till the 1970s there was actually no countrywide system of nursery (or pre-primary) schools. In some areas there were nursery schools and classes for four-year-olds (or, in England, reception classes in primary schools). These provided informal education and play facilities a few hours a week, but they were not compulsory and only 25% of three- or four-year-olds attended them. There were also some pre-school playgroups organised and paid for by parents themselves where children were brought twice a week for an hour or two.

With 45% of women now going out to work, the present Labour government has made expanding pre-school education a priority. Since September 1998 it has provided free nursery education in England and Wales for all four-year-olds whose parents want it. Three- and four year-olds can receive education in nursery schools or classes or attends informal pre-school; play groups organized by parents and voluntary bodies.

Normally, the average child begins his or her compulsory education at the age of 5 startingprimary school. There are infant schools for children between the ages of 5 and 7 and junior schools for those between the ages of 8 and 11.

For the first two years of schooling (5 – 6) children are expected to learn to read and write, to do simple sums, to learn basic practical and social skills, and to find out as much as they can about the world through stories, drama, music, crafts and through physical exercise. It is assumed that most children can read by the time they start their third year of schooling. Some of them will be fluent, others will still need help, for schoolwork now depends on reading and writing. From 7 to about 11 or 12, children are at school where the class teacher is still a central figure for them, because he or she teaches many basic lessons. But increasingly there is emphasis on subjects with subject teachers. There will be probably a special teacher for maths, another for crafts, another for French, if French is provided at this age.

Classroom work is often done in an informal manner. Children work at tables, and move around fairly freely in the course of studying a practical topic.

At about 11 or 12 children move to a new school, usually a “comprehensive” that will accept all the children from three or four neighbouring junior schools. Changing to the “big” school is a great moment in life for them.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
Sixth form: ages 16-18 (voluntary)	\|	SECONDARY EDUCATION

Не знайшли потрібну інформацію? Скористайтесь пошуком google:

Генерація сторінки за: 0.004 сек.