* A survey conducted last year showed that exam stress is affecting more than half of seven-year-olds, and that 68 per cent of teachers believe tests at such a young age are not good for pupils
* Baseline tests of five-year-olds were abolished last September. Progress is now assessed using the foundation “profile”, which is built up over a year and based entirely on observation
* The foundation stage, introduced in 2000, emphasises learning and teaching, in that order. The children lead the way and the teaching is “indirect”
* Wales is sweeping away key stage 1, replacing it with a play-based foundation phase for three to seven-year-olds
