Under-fives curriculum 'a threat to toddlers'

A powerful group of academics warned today that a national curriculum for all under-fives is being introduced by stealth.

The group has co-signed a letter protesting against the curriculum, which comes into force next year, saying it would cause unnecessary anxiety, reduce children's enthusiasm for learning, and could cause behaviour problems later in life.

The measures will apply to around 25,000 nurseries, and are intended to make sure three-to-four-year-olds master simple punctuation, basic maths and use phonics to read complex words.

The academics, including leading child psychologists Richard House, Dorothy Rowe and Penelope Leach, and Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, have launched the Open Eye campaign, calling for children to be allowed to learn through "free play".

They say this is the most natural, effective method in infant education.

The letter to ministers warned: "An overly formal curriculum, however carefully camouflaged, distorts the learning experience.

"An early headstart in literacy is known to precipitate unforeseen difficulties later on - including unpredictable emotional and behavioural problems."

Infants are already assessed by teachers but the new system, coming into effect next autumn, will compel small children to be constantly monitored across 13 learning scales.