The first year of school ‘is a waste of time’ for many pupils

Many pupils are wasting their time during their first year of school, because they don’t learn enough reading and maths, Ofsted has warned.

Pupils in Reception are not being taught the skills they need – and some take years to catch up to where they should be, Ofsted said.

The education watchdog warned that schools need to have ‘high expectations’ of Reception pupils – with a third lacking the knowledge they need by the time of Year One.

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Last year, inspectors found that Reception education was inadequate in 84 schools, according to the Daily Mail, and required improvement in 331.

The report warned: ‘For too many children, Reception is far from successful. It is a false start and may predispose them to years of catching up rather than forging ahead.

‘Put simply, by the end of Reception, the ability to read, write and use numbers is fundamental.

‘They are the building blocks for all new learning. Without firm foundations in these areas, a child’s life chances can be severely restricted. The basics need to be taught – and learned – well, from the start.’