The introduction of the Foundation Phase for 3- to 7-year-olds is also creating increasing divergence between Wales and England.
Under the 2008 curriculum, between the ages of 3 and 11 a child's education was divided into two main stages: Under the new curriculum, the key stages are replaced with "progression steps" with guidance of what level pupils are expected to reach at different ages.
[3] Under the 2008 curriculum, schools were required to teach children in Key Stage 2 English, Welsh or Welsh as a second language, mathematics, science, design and technology, information and communication technology, history, geography, art and design, music and physical education.
[2] The foundation phase did not use traditional subjects instead dividing the curriculum into seven "areas of learning"; The curriculum which is being formally introduced in primary schools in 2022 gives schools more freedom to decide what children are taught.
[7] Statutory testing for children finishing Key Stage 1 and 2 was introduced across England and Wales in 1989.