Major primary schools review planned

The government is to commit to the first 'root-and-branch' review of English primary school education for a decade, children's secretary Ed Balls has said.

The cabinet minister said education expert Sir James Rose would lead the review, and would look at refocusing the curriculum on core subjects.

"He will look at the curriculum and see how we can take out some of the clutter and reduce the number of set subjects, so we have more space for maths, more space for reading, also make sure that every child is being taught a foreign language in primary school," he told the BBC's Sunday AM.

"What the evidence shows is that if you are forcing 15 and 16-year-olds to do a language when they are not motivated to do so, it doesn't work.

"If you can start it early and get kids interested in language when they are at that age, it's more likely they will go and do better in secondary school after that."

The review forms part of a 10-year children's plan, to be published on Tuesday.

"Our children's plan is about getting to world class and, most importantly, to world class for every child - and we are not there yet," Balls said.

Ministers are also to announce an inquiry into the commercialisation of childhood and under-age drinking.

Balls said the average 10-year-old has internalised 300 to 400 different brands, and said he would not rule out introducing new regulations on alcohol advertising.

The minister is also expected to announce plans for free nursery care for children as young as two from poorer families.