Back to: Early Childhood Care and Education B.ed Notes, IGNOU Notes, M.A Notes, Graduation Notes
The origin and development of preschool education in the UK:
Although youngsters can participate in preschool even though the state school system in the UK doesn’t start until age five. Several academic institutions, including childcare centres, play areas, childcare services, and infant classrooms inside primary schools, offer preschool education in the UK. Preschools are open Monday through Friday, often from 7 am to 6 pm, giving parents the freedom to collaborate with a full day of work. The primary goals of preschool education are to foster a child’s communication, math, and colour knowledge as well as to expose them to early childhood engagement.
History of Preschool in UK:
The preschool movement was started mostly in the 19th century as the Industrial Revolution grew and more industries were created as a result. There was a need to care for youngsters because parents were expected to work. The very first nursery school, therefore, opened its doors in 1816. It offered small children of textile mill employees care and education. The first nursery institutions were independently managed. It is worth mentioning.
The first year of compulsory schooling for kids was 1870 when they turned 5. As society has evolved quickly over time, there has been a noticeable increase in preference for preschool services. There was also an increase in single-parent households, dual-earner households, and teen parents.
Preschool today in the UK:
Preschool education for kids under 5 is quite common in the UK, even if it is not required. A policy decision that offers part-time “early years” schooling to kids who turn 4 years old was started in 1998.
In the UK, kids can go to preschool for three sessions of two and a half hours each, three days per week, at a certified play program or institution of their parents’ choosing. It is important to note that the UK is thought to offer the least amount of preschool education in all of Europe. In contrast to the UK, 95 percent of kids attend preschools in nations like Belgium and France. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 can enroll in local public preschools, nurseries that are a part of primary schools, or licensed play programs.
Although the individual school administration insists that preschool institutions are not required, in the event that there are not many public preschool institutions, it must make sure that there will be free spots at recreational programs.
Typically, in the UK, preschool education is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, because preschools have no catchment region, families can select from a range of programmes and apply to several preschool educational facilities. However, in order to guarantee that their kids will have a spot in a primary school in the future, the majority of parents in the UK decide to focus on state nurseries that are connected to primary schools. A youngster should be registered as soon as feasible.
Characteristics of preschool in the UK:
The following are included in British state-regulated preschool instruction:
- The kid’s mental and intimate growth.
- improve communication and social abilities.
- knowledge and linguistic proficiency.
- increasing improvement in mathematical skills.
- basic concepts of humanity and nature.
- instruction in aesthetics and athleticism.
The British Department of Education’s plans and procedures must be followed by all establishments taking part in the programme, although they are free to make their own modifications to the main programme to concentrate the teaching experience on particular subjects.
Advantages:
Despite the fact that play schools, like playgrounds, often do not offer teaching to youngsters and are instead centered on learning programs, data demonstrates that students who attend play schools are typically smarter and advance far more quickly when school starts than those that don’t.
In particular, with kids who are foreign-born and do not speak English at home, preschool institutions are especially strongly advised. In this situation, enrolling your kid in a primary school will aid in their quicker assimilation, community integration, and preparation for primary school.
