Free nursery places may not help children's education, watchdog finds | Education | The Guardian

'School' cannot compensate for Society however education is a misnomer; it is schooling they are talking about as education is not assessed. Free nursery places may not help children's education, watchdog finds | Education | The Guardian

Parenting classes don't tackle child poverty, says former Sure Start boss | Society | The Guardian

Parenting classes don't tackle child poverty, says former Sure Start boss | Society | The Guardian

Singing to children may help development of language skills | Life and style | The Guardian

"'Even better than just singing, though, is to teach songs with actions and encourage your child to dance along to the music, they will learn balance, co-ordination, body awareness and rhythm,' he said."

Froebel's Mutter- und Kose-Lieder, anyone?

Scocca

Uniforms for pre-school children: is the choice really between rearing "drones" or "shoppers"?

Your baby can't really read!

Parents and educational organizations including  The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood are seeking an end to the deceptive marketing practices used to advertise so-called educational products such as the video flashcard product marketed in the USA as "Your Baby Can Read".  Ummm... no.  It can't. Moreover, "[i]f parents follow Your Baby Can Read’s viewing instructions, their baby will have watched more than 200 hours by the age of nine months—spending more than one full week of 24-hour days in front of a screen."  This when the recommended amount of screentime for children below aged two is zero hours, full stop.

Read more: http://www.momsrising.org/blog/your-baby-can%e2%80%99t-really-read-and-doesn%e2%80%99t-need-to/#ixzz1JR1BW5hQ  

BBC News - Early years development measures to be scaled back

Some mixed messages in reaction to welcome news of a reduction in the number of EFYS 'benchmarks' in England. BBC News - Early years development measures to be scaled back

Unlike Thatcher, Cameron is preserving awkward history | Polly Toynbee | Comment is free | The Guardian

Cohort studies and policies for children in the UK. Unlike Thatcher, Cameron is preserving awkward history | Polly Toynbee | Comment is free | The Guardian