In your article surveying teachers’ opinions about the ideal starting date for compulsory education (“The best age to start?”, November 17), you mention that education in the Netherlands begins at six. It used to, but in the past few years this has changed to five.
Children now start school on the first day of the month after their fifth birthday. Education remains compulsory until the end of the school year during which they are 16. For more information, see the Ministry of Education’s website at: www.minocw.nlleerplicht
Eithne Webster
Caterham Surrey
