Primary state education

The first step of compulsory education in Britain is primary schooling. Primary schools cater for children between the ages of 5 and 11. The first two years are the years of infant school. In infant school (or classes) children are encouraged to read, to write in their own words, to understand and make use of numbers. Subject teaching is rare. At the age of 7 children go to the junior school where the teaching becomes more formal. About 40-50 minutes every day are spent on arithmetic. Almost an hour a week is given to work in history, geography, nature study and music. Pride of place is given to English, which may occupy from 7 to 10 hours a week. Special care is taken to continue the teaching of reading. The infant and junior schools are in many cases housed in the same building and may be regarded as two levels of primary education.

Some children between 2 and 5 years of age attend informal preschool playgrounds organized by parents in private houses. Teachers and students in training often work there. In the nursery classes kids are looked after while their parents are at work. Children are given a chance to play, have lunch and sleep. Attendance at the nursery schools (classes or groups) is not compulsory. There are no formal lessons in a nursery school. Indoor and outdoor play using a great variety of materials forms the basis of the daily programme. Other activities include drawing, painting, listening to stories told by the teacher, dancing, and learning the values of money, weights and measures while playing organized games.

Exercise 2. Match the definitions from A with the words in B.

A. 1). a school in Britain for children between the ages of 7 and 11. 2) a school in Britain for children between the ages of five and seven. 3) a building belonging to or for the use of a particular person or group. 4) a school in Britain for children between 5 and 11. 5) an outdoor area where children can play, especially at a school.

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B. 1) infant school 2) primary school 3) junior school 4) playground 5) private house

Exercise 3. Agree or disagree with the following statements according to the text.

1. Primary schools cater for children between the ages of 4 and 7.

2. Children go to the junior school at the age of 7.

3. The teaching at junior schools is informal.

4. English classes at junior schools occupy from 7 to 10 hours a month.

5. Teachers and students in training often work at playgrounds.

6. There are a lot of formal lessons in a nursery school.

Exercise 4. Answer the questions.

1. What is the first step of compulsory education in Britain?

2. What are children encouraged to in infant schools?

3. At what age do children go to junior schools?

4. How much time is spent on different subjects?

5. What kind of schools can be regarded as two levels of primary education?

7. Are there any lessons in a nursery school?

8. Does indoor or outdoor play form the basis of the daily programme?

Text 3

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.