ITV
12.46, Wed Mar 14 2007
Babies will be assessed on how they cry, gurgle and squeal from next year as part of a new national curriculum for under-fives.
Staff in every nursery in England will monitor toddlers from birth on their progress towards 69 Government goals which cover skill levels expected in reading, writing and rudimentary maths.
Parents' groups have attacked the new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which will be a legal requirement for all childminders and children's centres from September 2008.
Margaret Morrissey, from the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, said: "I think it's really sad that we have reached the point now where instead of reducing children's stress we have increased it.
"Will nurseries be worrying more about children reaching these targets than caring for our children?
"It worries me that we are expecting children to reach these targets when they have not even had their first birthday."
The Department for Education published practice guidance alongside the curriculum document, detailing how childcare staff should assess the progress children make at different ages.
Babies from the age of birth to 11 months should be assessed for "the different ways babies communicate - such as gurgling when happy", the guidance said.
At this age, babies "communicate in a variety of ways including crying, gurgling, babbling and squealing".
Staff were advised to record how babies under 11 months old "begin to explore their own movements", mimic adults' facial expressions and "gaze" at things that interest them.
