Nursery World - Plans to start school at six

Early years experts have broadly welcomed plans under consideration by Glasgow City Council to delay the start of formal schooling until age six, but raised concerns that this could be jeopardised by cuts to high- quality early years provision.

Last year the city council removed some teachers from pre-schools toplug gaps in primary 1 classes. There are signs that nursery closuresare generally on the increase in Scotland.

An independent report by education experts, covering a raft of proposalsaimed at improving pupil outcomes, said that 'an additional year in apre-five setting would be beneficial for many pupils'. But it added,'The Education Commission concluded that this should be a long-term goalin the city, but only when universal early years education is availablefor all three- to six-year-olds.'

Margaret Dobie, head of pre-fives and childcare in Glasgow, said raisingthe school starting age had been considered because there is 'a feelingsome children, particularly boys, are too young to start school at five.But there are budgetary implications because of the need for higherstaff-to-pupil ratios'.

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