Northern Ireland has the lowest statutory school starting age in Europe. Children must start school in the September after their 4th birthday, a year earlier than in England, where by law children are required to start school the term after their 5th birthday.
The campaigners highlighted to the minister the more flexible systems used in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
In Scotland, children are required to start primary school in the August term after their fifth birthday. Parents in the Republic of Ireland can defer their child’s school entry and keep them in an early years setting for an extra year.
Following their call, the minister publicly stated that he would examine ways in which a degree of flexibility in the school system might be introduced.
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