Upstart: The Case for Raising the School Starting Age and Providing What the Under-Sevens Really Need

By Sue Palmer

An issue and a book parents and teachers will be talking about.

Why does Britain and its former colonies send children to school as young as four and five, when in eighty-eight per cent of the world the starting age is six or seven?

Sue Palmer, author of best-selling Toxic Childhood, uncovers the truth: it's not because of what's best for children, but historical accident and economics.

Palmer examines research ranging from neurological science to educational data, and shows that under-sevens gain most -- educationally, physically, socially and psychologically -- from not being stuck behind a desk. Upstart puts forward a passionate case for Britain adopting a proper 'kindergarten' stage that recognizes what under-sevens really need.

With clarity, ease and vigor, Palmer describes a different way of doing early years education that would have huge benefits both for individual children, and for our nation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1782502688
• ISBN13: 9781782502685
• Release Date: August 2016
• Publisher: Floris Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"