Hello everyone, Firstly let me thank each and everyone of you for your support, whether you have signed, shared, commented..whatever you have done, the message #ExtendEYFSto7 is spreading around the world. I'm sure you will have all seen the recent media coverage about thousands of UK parents deciding to take action against this governments attack on their children's educational experiences, mental health and well being. Tomorrow will see something revolutionary...parents showing the government that they will not stand for this attack. Our own education ministers speech to the Headteachers Union at the weekend, ironically included reference to this action as "damaging to children". This shows that the government are realising just how serious this is, and how we will not stay quiet on this. So perhaps you have children, perhaps you are not decided whether to join the action tomorrow or not, perhaps you are working so are not able to. Whatever position you are in, please look at this phenomenal page and add your support by signing, commenting and sharing. https://letthekidsbekids.wordpress.com/ Back to our petition though. I hope that after the 3rd May parents protest, our petition and cause will find many new supporters. We know that there has been a u-turn on the baseline assessments at aged 4. We know that the assessment system of our children aged 6,7 and 10 and 11 is in turmoil....and yet what underpins these flawed systems is a totally developmentally inappropriate curriculum. One which is damaging children, narrowing their schooling to literacy and numeracy, where creative experiences are squeezed out in the relentless pursuit of coverage and passing tests. So please keep sharing both the change.org petition https://www.change.org/p/sam-gyimah-mp-extend-the-early-years-foundation-stage-from-birth-to-5-to-birth-to-7 and also the government one. We are at 18.5k signatures on this one. The government have given a fairly standard response so now we need to push together towards 100k if we want debate considered! https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/121681 Thank you again and to find out more, check out my latest blog. http://keepingearlyyearsunique.blogspot.co.uk/ I am committed, passionate and determined to make a change. Reading your stories and having you all standing beside me gives me strength to carry on. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart; friends, family, colleagues, families of those I teach or have taught over the years and those who I have not yet met. Individually we are a drop, but together we are an ocean! Kindest regards as always Elaine (Keeping Early Years Unique founder)