Infant school

[2][3] Early childhood education was a new concept at the time[4] and seen as a potential solution to social problems related to industrialisation.

[5] Numerous writers published works on the subject and developed a theory of infant teaching.

[14] As it was integrated into the state system, infant education in England, Ireland and Wales came under pressure to achieve quick academic progress in children and shifted towards rote learning.

[15][16] The new "kindergarten" methods of teaching young children had some limited influence on the curriculum in the late 19th century.

[41] In Wales, the levels of attainment expected of school children are called progression steps.

[42] The first year of primary school in Scotland is part of Early Level that also includes nursery education.

[note 1][43] The question of when children should transition from learning in a manner based on play to more formal instruction is a matter debated among academics.

Beyond that age, government policy encourages a focus on formal instruction in reading, writing and mathematics.

In many countries the change takes place when children are slightly older, though the divide is frequently blurred.

[44] The foundation phase was introduced in Wales in 2008 to move towards more informal learning for children up to seven years, in reaction to these debates.

[45] In the 2020s, there have been concerns that many children are starting school with limited ability to communicate and manage their personal care.

School building
Thornborough Infant School, Buckinghamshire (2024)
Children playing with toys and playground equipment.
Playground at an infant school in North London (1943)