Ministers in England persist in seeing the early years as a preparation for school rather than a vitally important stage in its own right. This period of life is when children establish the values and relationships that underpin their sense of self, their attitude to later learning, and their communicative skills and natural creativity. Inappropriate pressures and interventions at this stage can cause profound damage to the self-image and learning dispositions of the child and we support the Save Childhood Movement's Campaign objectives to:

1) re-establish the early years as a unique stage in its own right and not merely a preparation for school    
2) protect young children's natural developmental rights
3) prevent baseline testing
4) reinstate the vital role of play
5) call for an English developmentally appropriate Foundation Stage for children between the ages of 3 and 7 (until the end of Key Stage 1)

see more on the campaign website http://www.toomuchtoosoon.org

and the Save Childhood Movement website http://www.savechildhood.net