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NUT calls for primary school children to play in the classroom up to the age of 7
The union is expected to call for 'play in the curriculum' throughout infant schools at its annual conference in Harrogate
Schoolchildren should be allowed to learn through playing in the classroom up to the age of seven, teachers are suggesting.
Many youngsters are not ready to sit down and do formal reading, writing and maths when they start school at the age of four or five, according to the National Union of Teachers (NUT).
The union is expected to call for "play in the curriculum" throughout infant schools, at its annual conference in Harrogate this weekend, arguing that this suits many young children better than educating them in a formal way.
It is also likely to say that lunch and break times are being used for "coaching and cramming", depriving youngsters of their "fundamental human right to play" and socialise with their classmates.
Instead, schools should follow the lead of countries like Finland and introduce 45-minute lessons immediately followed by 15-minute playtimes.
A resolution due to be put forward at the conference says: "Primary schools are now being driven more and more towards a test and accountability culture which in turn makes them drive children of primary age to be educated in a formal way."
It goes on to suggest that learning through play is known to help youngsters develop vital communication and social skills and that "over-formalisation of learning can cause disaffection with school".
The motion calls on the NUT to back play in the curriculum at Key Stage 1 (five to seven-year-olds) "to reflect the needs of the children".
Speaking ahead of the conference, NUT general secretary Christine Blower said many children are not ready for the "formal, sitting down, 'come on let's do some work' stage" before they are seven.
"There is a question about whether we're expecting children to do things they're not developmentally ready for," she said.
The resolution, due to be heard on Saturday, also says: "Lunchtime and break times are being used for coaching and cramming sessions, thus depriving primary age children of their fundamental human right to play and have free time to socialise with their peers.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says children have the right to play and rest, it adds.
Ms Blower said: "In Finland, there are 45-minute lessons and then they have a break. Between each teaching session they have a break.
"One thing about our children is that, relatively speaking, they are rushed from pillar to post. Not so much in primary school, but in secondary school.
"Having a break between lessons gives a bit of space to reflect on the lesson they've just had."
The motion calls on the NUT to campaign in England and Wales for new laws to ensure that children have a right to appropriate breaks and lunchtimes.
The resolution comes amid growing debate over what children should learn, with politicians and education experts increasingly calling for schools to instil and teach values and abilities like character, teamwork and resilience alongside academic subjects.