Annual figures published last year highlighted a significant decrease in the number of nursery teachers in Scotland over the past few years. In Stirling they have dropped to 11, when they stood at 29 in 2004.
The statistics show Moray has been the worst affected, losing 46 per cent of its teachers. North Ayrshire and East Dunbartonshire have lost 44 per cent and 33 per cent respectively. Edinburgh has lost 30 teachers and Glasgow 61 in the same period.
Brian Cooper, spokesman for teachers' union the Educational Institute of Scotland, said, 'Councils are having to cut primary school class sizes, so the nursery teachers have been shifted to early primary to make that possible, or shared across several classes, as in Stirling. Of course, there's an obvious impact on children's early education.'
He added, 'The Scottish National Party's commitment was for every child to have access to a nursery teacher, which is actually quite a loose term. Local authorities can share a nursery teacher across schools and the child still has access.'
