A root and branch review into primary school education that recommends scrapping subjects for themes, teaching well-being and introducing part-time schooling for four-year-olds born in July or August has been welcomed by Kent education chiefs.

The report, written by government advisor Sir Jim Rose, suggests replacing traditional lessons like geography, history and French with six core areas of study.

Play would also become a crucial part of primary school learning, as would IT, which should be considered as important as literacy and numeracy.

The report recommends children should start primary the September after their fourth birthday, with some starting part-time to give them time to develop to a similar mental stage as their older classmates.

The changes are aimed at giving teachers more flexibility within the curriculum.

Robert Straker, head teacher at the Anthony Roper Primary School, Eynsford, near Dartford, and county secretary of the National Association of Headteachers in Kent is delighted.

But he also thinks the recommendations have "a cat in hell's" chance of becoming reality.

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He said: "Any review where arrangements for learning have made assessment a servant of the curriculum rather than the master is brilliant. We're just driven and obsessed with facts and figures and assessing a child seemingly every second or two within their primary curriculum.

"It's a great opportunity for us to get back the curriculum and turn it into a broad and balanced one where children are viewed as a whole child, not just some ingredient in a sausage that brings them out at 11 in a level four or five in their maths."

On the subject of part-time pupils he added: "You can't suddenly say you're only going to pay the teacher for the child part-time as the teacher will still be there in the afternoon.

"School budgets are already hugely stressed and it would become almost impossible to manage."

The importance of play in learning is a core theme in the report, with an emphasis on its ability to help children not only in their happiness and well-being, but also in all aspects of their education.

Cllr Leyland Ridings - KCC's cabinet member for children, families and educational achievement - believes play is key to helping children learn subjects like maths and English.

He said: "Children learn through play and in most of the other countries in the world children don't actually start school until at least a year later than here, if not two.

"So they have in their kindergarten environment very many more opportunities for play and it helps them to socialise and develop in other ways.

"The key with this is going to be in the training of the teachers and this goes right back to training colleges."

Cllr Ridings was positive about the part-time idea as long as it was not compulsory.

He said: "Some children are more than able to cope at a very young age but I think in general it is welcome for the ones who are not so advanced."

Despite the praise, Mr Straker thinks it is highly unlikely most of the recommendations in the report will be put into place.

He added: "The chances of it being put in place are not very high because politicians and particularly government want to have this huge power."