Over the past week 20,000 people have signed a petition to say a very loud and clear NO to baseline testing. I am an experienced teacher and I’ve spent my career studying young children and their development. Of course schools must be accountable. Of course teachers must assess children. And we do. We assess by observing and interacting. Building a picture of the whole child as a unique person. Not just their ability in reading, writing and maths. There is so much evidence against this proposal and very little evidence or support for it. The early days of school are a crucial part of a young child’s life. These are the days when they make new friends, form relationships with new adults, find their feet in a new environment and experience new routines and boundaries. These are NOT the days when they should be taken out of this environment and tested on their English and maths ability. Some children will have just turned 4, others just turned 5. Some will have special needs. Some won’t speak English. Each and every child will have had different experiences before they set foot in the reception classroom door. So how can data obtained through such testing ever be viewed as accurate or reliable? At best baseline testing is a waste of money (£10 million), at worst it stands to label our children in their formative years and negatively impact on their mental health and educational experience. Let’s tell the Government that this plan is dangerous, unreliable, unethical, immoral and pointless. We will not stand by to see testing enter our nation’s reception classrooms. Our children are more than data and guinea pigs for flawed policies. They are the future. They are more than a score. Thank you, Elaine Bennett, Early Years and Year One Teacher