The seven years before count, not just the final nine months

There is no doubt that every year in primary education has its own specific challenges.

Reception: arguably the most important year in a child’s education. Year 1: often the first year of more formal learning, and the year of the phonics check. Year 3: the first year of key stage 2 and the anecdotally dreaded “data drop” between phases.

And then there’s year 6. There’s a reason for the adage “once you’re in year 6, you’re not coming out”.