The government has announced the sidelining of tests for seven-year-olds.

Ministers say that a more flexible approach will allow teachers to judge how their pupils are doing in class.

The policy change has occurred after teachers and parents insisted that the spring tests, taken solely in England, were putting too much pressure on children too early.

Stephen Twigg, the schools minister, said that it would not apply to 11 and 14-year-olds.

England is the last country in the United Kingdom to use national curriculum tests.