Patterns of preschool provision in English local authorities 1

It is estimated that in 1986 40‐50% of children in England aged 3 and 4 were attending pre‐school playgroups. Another 20% were receiving education in nursery schools and classes, mostly part time, whilst a further 20% were in the reception classes of infant schools, mostly full time. Using data on the provision of these services within each local authority in England it is shown that the numbers of nursery education and of playgroup places are strongly negatively correlated. Combining these statistics with data from the 1981 Census it is also shown that the rates of provision are strongly related to the socio‐economic characteristics of the authorities, such that playgroups predominate in the more affluent areas whereas high levels of nursery education are found in urban areas with more material disadvantage.

     

The Effects of Pre‐School Experience on Reading Attainment: a four year cross‐sectional study

This paper examines the reading attainments of a sample of Year 2 children who had one of three types of preschool experience. The results of a 4‐year cross‐sectional study of a sample of all Year 2 children (n = 834) from six randomly selected primary schools within one Local Education Authority (LEA) are presented. The children had attended nursery or playgroup or experienced no preschool provision outside the home: they were not matched for social background. Pupils’ scores on The Primary Reading Test (PRT) [France, N. (1981) The Primary Reading Test (Windsor, NFER/Nelson] are compared over the 4 years, as are the reading Standardised Assessment Task (SAT) scores of the last two cohorts. Results are not clear cut. For 3 of the 4 years, the group with no‐preschool experience performed significantly less well than at least one of the other two groups with some type of preschool experience on the PRT. The SAT levels of nursery children were significantly higher than those of the other two groups. Conclusions, based on such a small study, are tentative. It appears that preschool provision has an effect on children's reading attainments and that this is still significant in Year 2. The validity of the SAT is considered as a factor in the relative reading attainments of the three groups.     

A survey of current pre‐school education of/for children from urban low‐income families in Beijing

This study investigated the pre‐school education of children from low‐income families in six urban districts of Beijing, using questionnaires and in‐depth interviews with respondents from district educational committees, sub‐district and residents’ committees, nursery schools, and low‐income families. The results indicated that (1) the number of nursery schools in Beijing’s urban districts showed a decreasing trend by year and that these schools were not evenly distributed; and (2) nursery school fees for usage were high, especially for low‐income families. These fees acted as a barrier for many of the children from this socio‐economic background, leaving a number of such children with no opportunity to receive pre‐school education. There was no attempt by the local government and/or communities to provide adequate financial and educational support for low‐income families. Recommendations are made with regard to improving the current situation.     

Educational Television in Iceland: the availability and utilisation of video resources in schools

The results of a survey into the provision and extent of use of video resources in Icelandic schools is given. While all schools at primary and secondary level are provided with at least one television and video recorder, the utilisation of video resources is relatively low. Due in part to the absence of off‐air reception facilities in most Icelandic schools, the use of video is mainly via videocassettes borrowed from the National Centre for Educational Media. The future policy for ETV in Icelandic schools is considered in terms of the provision of production facilities and training needs.     

Nursery schools for the few or the many? Childhood, education and the state in mid-twentieth-century England

Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, successive presidents and officials at the Board of Education made it clear that they believed there were three types of children in Britain - those who needed nursery schools to rescue them from degradation, those for whom a less expensive nursery class would do the job adequately and those who would be better off staying home with mother. However, by the time the 1944 Education Act was framed, national policy towards pre-school provision had undergone a major transformation: nursery schools could provide the best start in life for everyone, should be available for every child from three to five and, crucially, should be the only form of childcare provision available. This change of direction was initiated by the government's inspectorate, and heavily promoted by members of the civil service. Professional bodies, such as the Nursery School Association and teaching unions, had very little influence over the decision-making process. The needs of working mothers, who were likely to be adversely affected by the closure of wartime childcare facilities, were inadequately considered. Local Education Authorities, who generally favoured nursery classes, were, however, able to wring a last-minute compromise from central government so that classes could be provided where schools were “inexpedient”. The fact that the new policy had been written in such isolation, without consideration for potential users, and had been messily hamstrung at the last moment meant that it was never implemented and must ultimately be considered a failure.     

Resource Provision in Primary Schools—An Australian Perspective

Abstract

This article gives an Australian perspective on resource provision in primary (elementary) schools. The overall current context is firstly outlined against the background of economic rationalism and devolution in schools. The conclusion reached is that primary schools regard themselves as a disadvantaged group in the area of resourcing, and supports the view that action should be taken to reverse this situation. A framework for conceptualizing resources as a partnership of human and non‐human factors with the supremacy of human resources is advanced. Finally, the notion of equality is explored and suggestions made for future developments, with a view to making resourcing more equitable in schools.     

Morning and afternoon nursery sessions: can they be equally effective in giving children a positive start to school?

This paper analyses the effects of gender, attendance period and age on children's adjustment to nursery classes as measured by the teachers using the Child at School Schedule. The sample consisted of 820 children in sixteen nursery classes attached to primary schools in one Local Education Authority. Within the sample three age groups were distinguished: Oldest (4:3 — 4: 8 years); Middles (3:9 — 4:2: years); Youngest (3:1 — 3:8 years). The results of a three‐way analysis of variance showed that boys and afternoon attenders were perceived to be less well‐adjusted to school than girls and morning attenders (at 1% level). In addition, the oldest children were perceived as better adjusted than younger ones: with the exception of three items the youngest were perceived as the least well adjusted. Strategies to help boys and afternoon attenders to experience as positive a start to nursery education as girls and morning attenders are discussed. The key role of the adults in helping children to develop personal and social skills is highlighted as is the need for home/school partnership. The implications of gender for play and classroom organisation are also considered.     

Northern Ireland head teachers’ perceptions of inclusion

Inclusion has been a central educational issue for well over a quarter of a century, with continuing emphasis worldwide on initiatives by governments, Higher Education Institutions and schools that respond to the needs of children and young people with learning difficulties, disabilities or other disadvantage. This paper reports how Northern Ireland head teachers interpret inclusion in the nursery, primary, post‐primary and special sectors. Those in mainstream schools showed whole‐hearted commitment to the philosophy and practice of inclusion, and could critically examine what they have achieved so far. However, they recognized persistent and varied constraints both within and beyond their schools. Head teachers in the special sector perceived their schools to have a multiple role in providing for pupils with the greatest need, reintegrating those on placement into their regular schools, and offering outreach support to mainstream colleagues. The implications for all aspects of teacher education were identified, for beginning teachers, for more experienced practitioners and for the head teachers themselves. A number of key factors were suggested to make inclusion work.     

Is it possible to access the ‘voice’ of pre‐school Children? Results of a research project in a pre‐school setting

This paper presents a rationale for consulting with very young children to enable their voices to be heard, and taken into consideration, when planning pre‐school provision. It goes on to suggest that the expressed preferences of pre‐school children can be taken as an accurate account of their thoughts and feelings. This is tested through a case study of six 4‐year‐olds in a nursery setting. The research enabled a comparison to be made between what the children said were their favourite areas of nursery life, and their preferences as noted by adults. In five out of six cases, adult perspectives were the same as child perspectives. The paper ends with some exploration of the factors that contribute to reliable consultation with very young children.     

河南民办中小学发展态势分析

近年来,河南省民办中小学发展呈现出新的态势：总体规模持续扩大,幼儿园所占比重最大,中等职业学校数量激增,城市学校减少,县城学校增加,其进一步发展的策略是努力创建品牌学校。     

Resourced provision: the impact of inclusive practices on a mainstream primary school

This personal account from a special educational needs co‐ordinator illustrates the negative impact that resourced provision has had on one school. The provision caters for children with communication and interaction difficulties and is housed in a mainstream primary school. For this school, while the provision has had a beneficial impact on the development of inclusive values among pupils, it has also led to a decline in the overall effectiveness of the school. The achievement data of pupils in the provision has had a detrimental impact on overall school performance data. Current narrow measures of school effectiveness in England mean that schools with increasingly diverse student populations can pay the price for their commitment to inclusion, as this example illustrates.     

The Netherlands: Participation in the School

Various arrangements have existed to ensure the participation of pupils' parents in school life, in particular, parent committees, which are obligatory in public schools. Private schools merely had the obligation to permit parents to form such a committee. This distinction was abolished by the new law concerning participation in education that went into effect February 1, 1982. This law is equally applicable to private or public education, nursery schools, primary schools, special schools, secondary schools, and higher professional schools (for a provisional period pending the establishment of specific regulations), as well as to part-time instruction and evening schools.     

Quality early childhood education for disadvantaged children: an investigation in the MCD schools

Schools run by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) play a pivotal role in providing early childhood education to young children belonging to marginalized sections of Delhi. However, literature review reveals that low learning outcomes are common among children attending these schools. Low levels of learning are often associated with poor quality educational programmes. The present study was therefore undertaken in nursery, grade I and grade II of 36 randomly selected MCD schools to investigate their structural and process quality. Structural quality included infrastructure facilities like availability of drinking water and toilets, safety and cleanliness of the physical setting among others. Process quality included the experiences of the children in the school. Findings revealed that while many MCD schools had an average score on components related to structural quality, the process quality scores of the schools were below average. Significant differences were also observed in overall quality scores of grade II, grade I and nursery, with nursery scores being the highest. The decline in quality scores from nursery to grade II is a sign of decreasing quality and prevents a smooth transition of children from pre-primary to primary.     

Co‐operation in the Countryside: small primary school clusters

This paper examines the role and significance of co‐operation (clustering) between small primary schools in rural areas across England and Wales. By increasing the range of resources available and enlarging staff and pupil peer groups, clustering can counter many of the challenges that confront curriculum delivery in small schools. However, effective inter‐school liaison can be impeded by fears surrounding the loss of individual school autonomy and logistical barriers caused by the nature of rural localities. Just as significantly, reductions in local authority support for cluster schemes combined with increased incentives to compete for pupils may be curtailing useful co‐operation. Findings from a sample of small‐school headteachers suggest, however, that despite recognition of these detrimental pressures, clustering is likely to remain central to a wider set of local coping strategies which are making a significant contribution to the viability of rural education provision.     

Teachers and the Very Able: case studies of four Scottish schools

High ability in children is a contentious issue in the Scottish educational system, which promotes equity through equality of opportunity in a non‐selective system. The aim of this research was to establish an understanding of the extent of available provision for very able children in a limited number of schools, and to chart teachers’ perceptions of high ability. Four Scottish schools were studied: one comprehensive high school and three primary schools, involving 17 teachers (primary principal and head teachers), one learning support teacher and three educational psychologists. Semi‐structured interviews, supported by open‐ended questionnaires, were the means of data collection. The data were submitted to a straightforward and qualitative content analysis. Results show tentatively that recognition of high ability is generally scarce in Scotland, that highly able pupils are often subjected to several decategorisations and that there is no consensus amongst teachers of how to understand high ability. A subgroup of able pupils was identified also, termed fast finishers’ by the participants.     

我国中小学和高校生态文明教育课程设置研究——以海南为例

在中小学和高校开设生态文明教育课程,有利于进行系统化、规范化、专门化的生态文明教育,促进全社会牢固树立生态文明理念。我国中小学和高校的生态文明教育还处于零散的初级阶段,尚未形成制度化、规范化、系列化的教育体系和课程体系,中小学和高校生态文明教育课程设置,需要明确课程的性质和类型,确定课程的目标体系、知识结构体系、内容体系和评价体系,规定教学内容的安排顺序和学时分配,以及做好教材建设和教师培训。     

>OFSTED: inspecting schools and improvement through inspection

Approximately one‐third of all maintained secondary schools in England, and a smaller tranche of nursery, primary and special schools, were inspected under the arrangements set out in Section 9 of the 1992 Education (Schools) Act by the end of 1994. This article reviews some aspects of quality assurance in the national inspection system in England. It looks in particular at the improvement of inspection and at improvement through inspection. Continuous improvement of the inspection system reflects feedback from key stakeholders, as well as work by OFSTED to incorporate new developments. Improvement through inspection, broadly defined, has to cover both what occurs at the individual school level and in the system at large as a result of inspection. We argue that an effective inspection system can provide a powerful incentive for, as well as directly contributing to, school improvement and development     

Achievement in Primary Schools: Report by the Select Committee

This article summarizes some major aspects of the Select Committee Report. It considers the report as an attempt to raise consciousness on the part that primary education plays, and ways in which this report on achievement in primary schools (ESAC 1986) differs from earlier contributions. The report moves beyond notions of individual children working largely separately and at least nominally under the direction of a single teacher. Instead, the perception is of children learning to work together, with teachers working in concert and increasingly in collaboration with parents. Schools are seen as a continuous system with children moving from one stage to the next without sharp changes of approach. The development of provision for under‐fives is similarly envisaged as a process of co‐ordination and co‐operation between the various providers, including parents.     

Instruction in Pre‐reading Skills in Preschool Children and its Effect on the Subsequent Rate of Reading Attainment

The effect of three preschool conditions on early reading attainment in the first four terms at primary school was studied. The conditions were: (a) nursery education with computer‐presented structured pre‐reading instruction comprising visual and auditory discrimination and recognition of letter shapes and sounds, (b) ‘normal’ nursery activities, and (c) no formal nursery education. The initial reading performance of these children in the three conditions was then monitored during their first two terms in the same class group of a first school. The group who received pre‐reading skills training was found not only to learn to read more quickly in terms of the number of books in the reading scheme read, but for this superiority to increase over the two terms, compared to the nursery only and the no‐nursery groups. Both the nursery conditions were superior to the no‐nursery group. The results were interpreted as indicating the importance of structured learning of basic pre‐reading skills and of the computer as an effective means of presenting them.     

‘They do it anyway’: a study of Primary 1 teachers' perceptions of children's transition into primary education

Almost all 3‐ and 4‐year‐olds in Scotland now experience some form of pre‐school provision prior to school entry. Given such high rates of participation, the impact of pre‐school experiences on children's readiness for primary school has become an important issue for those involved in the early stages of compulsory schooling. Teachers in early years classes need to be aware of the experiences and achievements of individual children in their pre‐school setting to enable each child to transfer into mainstream education with the least amount of disruption to their learning. This study was carried out in one small Scottish local authority and explored the perceptions of early years teachers, from a diverse range of primary schools, of what information is important for them as children start school. This article presents the perspectives of Primary 1 teachers on children's readiness for schooling. It reports the factors, which these teachers identified as having an impact on successful transition from the pre‐school setting into the primary school.