Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, has voiced her concern at baseline tests being introduced for pupils in reception.

Some schools are introducing Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA), an assessment taken by all children within six weeks of entering reception focusing on maths, literacy and communication.

These are intended to be the starting point to assess how much progress schools are making with their pupils.

However, Ms Qureshi is sceptical about the effects of these tests for kids, and has raised these concerns with the secretary of state for education, Gavin Williamson MP.

She said: "I believe that when teachers are forced to 'teach to the test', narrowing down the range of learning to core parts of core subjects to get through exams, it does not help pupils.

"Children must have a rich and varied education.

The Bolton News:

"There is evidence that when children are encouraged to be creative, they do better at the core elements of literacy and numeracy too.

"It is vital that children are prepared for life, not just for exams.

"I believe the Government should abolish the RBA and should consult with teaching unions, parents and experts to bring forward proposals for a new system that separates the assessment of schools from the assessment of children."