Meeting of the Parliament 13 June 2024
First, I thank all members who have supported my motion, which calls for a discussion on a kindergarten stage in Scotland. I pay particular thanks to my colleague Kaukab Stewart for initially leading the discussion on the topic prior to her promotion to Government.
The tendency for children to start formal education at four or five years old means that Scotland—and indeed the United Kingdom, for that matter—is an outlier in Europe. Our tradition of starting school at that age was enshrined in the Education (Scotland) Act 1872. That piece of legislation was groundbreaking for ensuring that every child got an education. However, since then, there has been a century and a half of research and improved understanding of child psychology and development, and we have an archaic mindset. Looking across Europe, we see that delaying starting academic studies is becoming more widespread, with many countries opting for their children to start school at six or even seven years old.
Change is possible. In Scotland today, the deferment of a four-year-old child is now the decision of the parent or legal guardian, thanks to the tireless work of the Give Them Time campaign. Its campaign for a further year of nursery funding for all children who defer their primary 1 start in Scotland was a resounding success, and it reflects the change in attitudes on school starting ages that we are seeing in Scotland today. I put on record my thanks to all those involved in that campaign. I know that they support the kindergarten model, too.