Hi,
I'm a writer, editor and single parent of two daughters. As a working single parent I am very well versed on all aspects of parenting. It is a job filled rewards and the challenges. A job fraught with irrational guilt, fear and protective instincts. All any parent wants for their children is the very best, is that too much to ask?
As a professional researcher I can tell you that the education system in place today for primary school children consists of the EYFS framework, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. The Government insists that the education system in place today provides all of its children with 'competence in numeracy and mathematics, language and literacy across the school curriculum' (Department of Education). This framework includes the controversial SAT's examinations in years two and six of primary school.
As a parent of two Daughters in years two and six, about to embark upon their SATs, I can testify that along with 'competence in numeracy [...] language and literacy' (DoE), this framework is giving my children anxiety, confidence issues and confining their development to a dot on a graph.
When I attend parents evening i don't want to be confronted with a list of words my seven year old can't spell. I want to know if she asserts herself in group discussions, if she has friends and is developing meaningful relationships. I could go on but my viewpoint is that we have a system that is failing the children, rather than children who are failing a system.