Too many children are missing out on play-based learning experiences in the first years of primary school, a survey has found.
Three out of four parents say most activities in P1 are not based around play, with many believing there is too much of an academic focus.
The survey, carried out by the School Start Flexibility NI campaign and ni4kids, was completed by parents and teachers with recent experience of P1 and P2.
Parents, teachers and charities are now urging the Department of Education to act.
The school starting age and early years curriculum have been the subject of considerable debate for years. Northern Ireland, educating pupils at four, has the earliest compulsory school age in Europe.
Apparently accepting that four is too young to start formal learning, the 'foundation' stage, which advocates a play-based approach in P1 and P2, was introduced in recent years.
The new survey, however, finds that many parents are not satisfied.
Three-quarters of respondents did not feel that most P1 activities were based around play, with nearly two-fifths (38 per cent) saying there was an academic focus after the first few weeks or from the start.
Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) thought that P1 was "quite different" or "very different" from pre-school.
Of those with recent P2 experience, 84 per cent felt there was an academic focus from the beginning or within the few first few weeks.
Dr Liz Fawcett, who co-leads School Start Flexibility NI, claimed the survey showed that the department's portrayal of P1 and P2 as offering a play-based curriculum and a smooth transition from pre-school was misleading.
"While some schools clearly place considerable emphasis on play at foundation stage, many others don't," she said.
One child encountering difficulties is four-year old Benjamin Droomer from Carrickfergus, who was born prematurely as well as being 'young for year'.
"Benjamin is only managing to cope because the school's put extra support in place, which is obviously very good of them," said his mother Rene.
"I firmly believe those additional resources would have been unnecessary if he had remained in the environment to which he's currently best suited which is a truly play-based and pre-school one."
The Department of Education said the foundation stage had been specifically designed for children in P1 and 2.
"The chief inspector's report (2012-14) found that of the Foundation Stage lessons evaluated, 84 per cent were good, very good or outstanding. In general, the report found that play-based and other learning activities facilitated well the development of early literacy and numeracy skills."
