Activities that can be beneficially promoted include reading to children, singing songs and nursery rhymes, going to the library and playing with numbers. An academic approach makes use of a staff-initiated curriculum with cognitive aims for school preparation. An academic approach can prescribe teaching in critical subject areas but can also limit a child-centred environment characterised by self-initiated activity, creativity and self-determination (Eurydice, 2009; Prentice, 2000).