Call for school to start at six

7th August 1998, 1:00am

Share

Call for school to start at six

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/call-school-start-six
Starting school a year later would help to provide a coherent service for three to six-year-olds, the charity Children in Scotland says in a response to the Government’s consultation on child care.

The start of compulsory school at age five, earlier than in most European countries, means many young children experience two or three different pre-school settings. There is inconsistency because some services are the responsibility of health or welfare and others of education authorities.

Bronwen Cohen, director of Children in Scotland, said a Childcare Act should be a priority for the Scottish parliament. A statutory body like the General Teaching Council should register early years workers, who deserved better pay and conditions.

Scotland could again be a pioneer as it was 180 years ago when Robert Owen opened a nursery at New Lanark.

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared