More than 2,500 people have signed an open letter to schools minister Nick Gibb, calling for the Government to 'urgently' reconsider plans to bring in the Reception Baseline in September.
Children are expected to take the Reception baseline in the first few weeks of starting school
Children are expected to take the Reception baseline in the first few weeks of starting school

The assessment for four-year-olds is due to go ahead in the autumn term.

The open letter has been organised by campaign group More Than A Score who argue that given the ‘unprecedented disruption from Covid-19, the priority must be to give these small children a sound start to school.’ 

The Baseline should be cancelled because children will have missed ‘a great deal of the necessary practical and emotional preparation including transition visits and, potentially, a whole term or more in nursery,’ they say.

The biggest teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), has backed the call with joint general secretaries Kevin Courtney and Mary Bousted signing their names.

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