The Government's proposed curriculum for under fives is an assault on family life, according to a coalition of top schools.
In a leaked letter to Beverley Hughes, the Children's Minister, the Independent Schools Council (ISC) argued that the planned curriculum would see greater interference in the education of younger children than in any other age group.
The Council, representing 1,280 fee-paying schools teaching 500,000 children, also criticised the target-driven programme as a "clumsy" and "unjustified" imposition on schools.
The Early Years Foundation Stage framework, nicknamed the nappy curriculum, sets out hundreds of developmental milestones for younger children and envisages assessing them on almost 70 different skills areas.
It will apply to all 25,000 nurseries and child care settings in England, whether they are run by the state, charities or private companies. This includes 946 ISC member schools, providing facilities for children aged three to five.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) defended the project, saying that parents would be able to opt out of parts of the programme that conflicted with their beliefs.
In a leaked letter to Beverley Hughes, the Children's Minister, the Independent Schools Council (ISC) argued that the planned curriculum would see greater interference in the education of younger children than in any other age group.
The Council, representing 1,280 fee-paying schools teaching 500,000 children, also criticised the target-driven programme as a "clumsy" and "unjustified" imposition on schools.
The Early Years Foundation Stage framework, nicknamed the nappy curriculum, sets out hundreds of developmental milestones for younger children and envisages assessing them on almost 70 different skills areas.
It will apply to all 25,000 nurseries and child care settings in England, whether they are run by the state, charities or private companies. This includes 946 ISC member schools, providing facilities for children aged three to five.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) defended the project, saying that parents would be able to opt out of parts of the programme that conflicted with their beliefs.
