Starting in August 2023, all children whose parents choose to take up their legal right to defer them, will have automatic access to a further year of funded nursery education.
Under current rules, any child aged four at the time of the start of the school year can defer entry for a year, but only those born in January or February are entitled to free childcare, with local authorities deciding if others qualify.
From August 2023, that decision will be taken out of the hands of councils.
Making the announcement, children’s minister Maree Todd said, ‘This will ensure that all children who defer will have an equal right to continue with funded ELC [early learning and childcare] if their parent or carer feels it is in their best interests.’
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