article_snippet.sent: Many children are not ready to sit down and do  reading, writing and maths when Many children start school at the age of four or five, according to the National Union of Teachers (NUT).
article_snippet.sent: A resolution due to be put forward at its annual conference in Harrogate says: 'Primary schools are now being driven more and more towards a test and accountability culture which in turn makes Primary schools drive children of primary age to be educated in a formal way.'
article_snippet.sent: Speaking ahead of its annual conference in Harrogate, the NUT general secretary Christine Blower said many children are not ready for the 'formal sitting down' and 'come on
article_snippet.sent: let's do some work stage'' before many children are seven. '
article_snippet.sent: There is a question about whether we're expecting children to do things children're not developmentally ready for,' she said.
article_snippet.sent: One thing about our children is that, relatively speaking, our children are rushed from pillar to post.
article_snippet.sent: Not so much in primary school, but in secondary school. '
article_snippet.sent: The resolution comes amid growing debate over what children should learn, with politicians and education experts increasingly calling for schools to teach values such character, teamwork and resilience alongside academic subjects.
highlights_snippet.sent: Teachers say pupils not ready for 'formal sitting down stage' before seven .
  