Day nurseries mooted for four-year-olds
Katy Morton
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
National Day Nurseries Association has proposed using spare nursery places for four-year-olds as a solution to the shortage of primary school places.
The NDNA said private, voluntary and independent day nurseries should beused, rather then sending children to school at four years of age.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the NDNA said, 'With an average of79.5% occupancy and around 15,500 UK day nurseries, there arepotentially thousands of places available for four-year-olds in daynurseries.'
The NDNA also said a later school start would benefit children born insummer.
In response to the Primary Review, schools secretary Ed Balls said thatparents worried that their child was too young to start school couldaccess 25 hours of free childcare instead.
The review said that summer-born children should start reception classin September after their fourth birthday rather than the Januaryfollowing, and added that children might start school part-time (News,30 April).
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said, 'The NDNA'ssuggestion is not a solution as it's about finding primary school placesand parents want to get their children started at school.'
Chairman of the LGA's Children and Young People's board, Councillor LesLawrence said, 'In the short term, councils will be working with schoolsto help them find extra capacity and draft in extra teachers and supportstaff.'
