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.