More than 75pc of readers have agreed with government proposals to axe national curriculum tests taken by seven-year-olds in England.

Following today's (Thursday) online poll on our website a total of 77pc of voters agreed with the plans, while 19pc were against.

The plans would see a new teacher assessment of four and five-year-olds when they start infant school and would help to 'reduce the burden' of assessment on teachers and pupils, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

To vote in the poll click here.

Mother Helen Westrop, of Sheringham, who agreed that the exam should be scrapped, said: 'We have Ofsted to monitor schools.

'The children get poorly and stressed, and the pressure heaped on them and the teachers means that nothing good comes of it.

'If the school already knows where the child is with their education why should they be made to sit through a test? If they're not feeling well that day or they're nervous they won't perform as well as if they we on their top form.

'I say introduce quarterly 'fun' tests which will be enjoyable for them but incorporate them showing that they have grasped the basics, can understand at an intermediate level or are excelling.'

Jane Davis, of Cromer, 'absolutely' agreed with the government proposals and added: 'Children should be allowed to enjoy learning not force fed test answers.'

And Andrea Wright, of Norwich, said: 'Children have a hard time when it comes to GCSEs. SATs put pressure on the children far too early. This should be a time to enjoy school.'

Finally Alison Waterman, 53, of Buckingham Drive in Hethersett, said: 'Little tests are okay and regular tests are important to assess how children are getting on, but it shouldn't be anything strenuous.'

Under the plans, the tests - known as SATs - in reading, writing, maths and science, which are taken by more than half a million youngsters each year, will no longer be statutory.

The proposed new baseline assessment will take place at some point during a child's reception year, but pupils should not know that they are being tested, the DfE said.

The results will be used as a marker of children's abilities at the start of their schooling and be used to measure the progress youngsters have made by age 11, at the end of primary school.

It means that schools will be held to account for the progress that children make throughout their primary school career.

The Government is consulting on the proposals, which also includes making improvements to the early years foundation stage - which records young children's progress up to age five.

SATs tests for seven-year-olds will go ahead this year, with some improvements, including changes to the type and difficulty of questions at the start of the tests, to ensure children are not discouraged by tough questions early on.

(Please note, the figures were correct and up to date at time of publication.)