Hi can someone mark my work please. This is question 1 on english language aqa higher paper November 2014 (8 marks)
In this article, we learn that the age of children starting school is different in the UK compared to Finland. This is seen when it says "a full three years later than many children in the UK". This suggests that "Finland has a better outcome outcome", as the children are more focused. As at the age of four they don't really understand the difference between playing with toys, ruining around, making mess, compared to being told "to sit down, be quiet".
Additionly, we learn that starting school at a younger age can affect a child's self esteem. This can be clearly seen when it says "puts pressure on he less bright kids". This suggests that children may feel dumb, silly, embrassed when they can not answer a question and another child can. Therefore they have the "pressure" of having to be as smart as them, and if they don't understand then it makes them feel dumb and stupid which affects their self esteem.
Lastly, we can see that some kids many be diagnosed with learning difficulties when in fact they don't have it and it's the "pressure" of having to stay focused for a long period on one topic. This can be seen when it says "schooling too early, then being diagnosed with learning difficulties". This suggests that starting school early can cause things likes learning difficulties, alternatively suggesting that perhaps some children don't have learning difficulties; it is where there brain is changing atmosphere. This shows that the brain is adjusting and it takes longer, not the fact that the child has a learning difficulties. We can clearly see this throughout the article, as it refers to the educational system as being "inappropriate", because of the effects it has on a child".