Both the Kowhai learning community and the Manuka learning community are using play-based learning this year. In the Manuka learning community, this means that Year 2 and Year 3 children are involved in play-based learning. The short answer to this question is that we don't anticipate there being any more or less of a gap between groups of learners than there has been at any other point in schooling. (As a side note, if we thought there was an issue here, we would be morally, ethically and professionally bound to eliminate any threat to learning). The long answer is below! We are fortunate in New Zealand that our curriculum is open, and that we do not have set criteria for what needs to be taught at each year level. This is one of the strengths of our curriculum, and something much admired internationally. In New Zealand teachers group children according to their relevant and assessed needs, not their year level. It's possible within any classroom (traditional, flexible, teacher-directed or play-based) to find older children who are working 'below' where we would expect them to be, and equally younger children working 'above' where we would expect them to be. In terms of level of expectation, our National Standards document where children should be working at different stages in schooling. You can read more about National Standards in the downloadable booklet below.
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