In the UK compulsory education begins at five years of age. Increasingly though, parents have been sending their children to school younger and younger. Reception classes at Primary schools take children at four years of age, Nursery schools take them at three and there are playgroups for them at two!

What about spending time with parents?

Part of the problem/cause of these little ones being sent ever younger is the parents fear that their little one will be left behind unless they join in too.

And now that parents have the choice as to which school the child goes to, the competition for places at the 'better' ones has resulted in many of these opening reception classes for four year olds and parents are sending their kids to these to ensure they get a place in the 'proper' school when they turn five.

But it doesn't stop there. Are five year olds ready for school?

And even if they are, what about all the problems they encounter in school?

And are we even educating them correctly when they get there?

Research from other countries has proved that the educational system being adopted in this country (the UK) is actually harmful to our children. Television programmes have highlighted the problems, newspaper articles too. Teachers are being forced to adopt methods they know to be harmful, and increasing numbers of parents are choosing to teach their own children at home.