The fourth group of interim reports was on the theme of Children in primary schools: research on development, learning, diversity and educational needs, and was published December 14, 2007. This group consisted of:
• Research Survey 2/1a - Children’s cognitive development and learning, Usha Goswami and Peter Bryant.
• Research Survey 2/1b - Children’s social development, peer interaction and classroom learning, Christine Howe and Neil Mercer.
• Research Survey 5/1 - Children in primary education: demography, culture, diversity and inclusion, Mel Ainscow, Alan Dyson, Peter Farrell and Jean Conteh.
• Research Survey 5/2 - Learning needs and difficulties among children of primary school age: definition, identification, provision and issues, Harry Daniels and Jill Porter.
A selection of press coverage of this fourth release of interim reports (14.12.07):
• BBC News website - 'Talk more in class, experts say' - "Children should be allowed to talk more in class, education experts have argued, despite the traditional view that chatter can be disruptive."
• Times Educational Supplement - 'Tests drive harms links with parents' - Helen Ward and Adi Bloom.
• Times Educational Supplement - 'Pretend play helps children learn' - Helen Ward.
• Times Educational Supplement - 'Let's hear it for the chattering classes' - Adi Bloom.
• The Telegraph - 'Studies fault competition in primary schools' - Graeme Paton, Education Editor.
• Independent - 'The key to your child doing well at school? Conversation in the home' - Richard Garner, Education Editor.
• Guardian - 'Help for special needs children "matter of class, race and gender"' - Polly Curtis, education editor.
• Guardian - 'Study calls for more play and talk' - Press Association.
• National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE) website - 'Primary Review publishes compelling reports: Inclusion in schools and "learning styles" challenged'
• Evening Standard - 'A competitive atmosphere in class can be bad for children's education, according to new research published as part of the biggest review of primary schooling for 40 years'.
• GMTV website - 'More playtime: Find out why there are calls for more talk and playtime in the classroom'.
• thisislondon.co.uk - "Sending children with severe special needs to ordinary schools condems many to a poor education and disrupts lessons..."
• ATL website - 'Special needs concerns raised'.
• ananova.com - 'Study calls for more play and talk'.
