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| SNP members back increasing school age to six | SNP members back increasing school age to six |
| (5 months later) | |
| The motion would bring Scotland in line with some Nordic countries, where formal education starts at seven | The motion would bring Scotland in line with some Nordic countries, where formal education starts at seven |
| SNP members have backed a motion that would see the age children start school increased to six years old. | SNP members have backed a motion that would see the age children start school increased to six years old. |
| Toni Guigliano, the party's policy convener, also proposed introducing a "statutory play-based kindergarten stage for three to six-year-olds". | Toni Guigliano, the party's policy convener, also proposed introducing a "statutory play-based kindergarten stage for three to six-year-olds". |
| Members overwhelmingly passed the motion at the SNP conference, which will not necessarily become policy. | Members overwhelmingly passed the motion at the SNP conference, which will not necessarily become policy. |
| The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said care should be exercised if the motion is implemented. | The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said care should be exercised if the motion is implemented. |
| It would bring Scotland into line with countries such as Finland, where formal education starts at seven. | It would bring Scotland into line with countries such as Finland, where formal education starts at seven. |
| Call to raise school start age in Scotland to six | Call to raise school start age in Scotland to six |
| School attainment gap 'still wide', watchdog warns | School attainment gap 'still wide', watchdog warns |
| Speaking at the conference, Mr Giugliano said: "We're clearly saying we want a kindergarten stage for three to six-year-olds that is universal and funded, that's not the same as what we're doing now." | Speaking at the conference, Mr Giugliano said: "We're clearly saying we want a kindergarten stage for three to six-year-olds that is universal and funded, that's not the same as what we're doing now." |
| Mr Giugliano claimed that teachers were under pressure to teach "reading, writing and reckoning" due to assessments in the early stages of primary school, putting "pressure" on children. | Mr Giugliano claimed that teachers were under pressure to teach "reading, writing and reckoning" due to assessments in the early stages of primary school, putting "pressure" on children. |
| He added: "To parents, the teachers and the children that are watching this debate unfold right now, what is the message from this conference hall we want to send them? | He added: "To parents, the teachers and the children that are watching this debate unfold right now, what is the message from this conference hall we want to send them? |
| "That we've got their back or that we're sticking to a system that is no longer fit for purpose? That's our choice." | "That we've got their back or that we're sticking to a system that is no longer fit for purpose? That's our choice." |
| The proposal does not include a timeframe as Mr Guigliano told BBC Radio Scotland's The Sunday Show in July there would have to be investment in staff and training. | The proposal does not include a timeframe as Mr Guigliano told BBC Radio Scotland's The Sunday Show in July there would have to be investment in staff and training. |
| It would see a kindergarten stage for three to six-year-olds, which would amount to increasing early years education by 12 months. | It would see a kindergarten stage for three to six-year-olds, which would amount to increasing early years education by 12 months. |
| This would be followed by six years of primary education. | This would be followed by six years of primary education. |
| Last year, Audit Scotland warned that the gap between what Scotland's poorest and richest young people were achieving in school "remained wide". | Last year, Audit Scotland warned that the gap between what Scotland's poorest and richest young people were achieving in school "remained wide". |
| The EIS teaching union has expressed concerns that a kindergarten system would mean fewer teachers for early learners | The EIS teaching union has expressed concerns that a kindergarten system would mean fewer teachers for early learners |
| 'Hijacked as a Trojan horse' | 'Hijacked as a Trojan horse' |
| EIS union general secretary Andrea Bradley, who spoke at a fringe event during the conference, said care should be exercised if the motion was implemented. | EIS union general secretary Andrea Bradley, who spoke at a fringe event during the conference, said care should be exercised if the motion was implemented. |
| She said: "EIS agrees with the thrust of the motion that was debated this morning, but we're deeply wary that the proposition could be hijacked and ridden as a Trojan horse, by those who don't have the interest of our youngest learners at heart, but who do have their eyes on pounds and pence." | She said: "EIS agrees with the thrust of the motion that was debated this morning, but we're deeply wary that the proposition could be hijacked and ridden as a Trojan horse, by those who don't have the interest of our youngest learners at heart, but who do have their eyes on pounds and pence." |
| Ms Bradley expressed concerns that the creation of a kindergarten system would mean fewer teachers dealing with the youngest pupils. | Ms Bradley expressed concerns that the creation of a kindergarten system would mean fewer teachers dealing with the youngest pupils. |
| Related Topics | |
| Primary schools | |
| SNP Conference | |
| Scotland Education |
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