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Parents lobby politicians over NI school starting age John O'Dowd indicates new school age rules likely
(35 minutes later)
Parents and teachers have been at the Northern Ireland Assembly to press for a change in the starting age guidelines for school children. Education Minister John O'Dowd has indicated he is willing to introduce new rules to allow flexibility on the school starting age.
Mr O'Dowd was speaking after a campaign group of parents and teachers addressed the Education Committee at Stormont on Wednesday.
The minister told the BBC his "mindset was to bring a scheme into play".
He said the main issue was not whether there would be a scheme, but exactly what scheme would be introduced.
He warned legislation might be needed, but he expected to make a decision in the coming months on the way ahead.
At age four, Northern Ireland has the lowest statutory age of entry to school in Europe, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research.At age four, Northern Ireland has the lowest statutory age of entry to school in Europe, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research.
Northern Ireland's Education Minister John O'Dowd is being called on to implement a more flexible regime. The group calling for a more flexible system said the current system works for most children, but they want a degree of flexibility so that parents of children who are not ready to begin school can hold them back.
This would allow parents to send their children to school aged five. DUP education spokesman Mervyn Storey also backed the group's campaign.
The group, supported by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) has taken its campaign to Stormont. "There are a relatively small number of children in Northern Ireland with specific circumstances who should be allowed to defer starting school," he said.
They say the current system works for most children, but they want a degree of flexibility to enable parents of children who are not ready to begin school to hold them back, "The education minister should move quickly on this issue and there is no reason for delay."
Mary O'Brien, mother of four-year-old Darragh, from east Belfast, said being one of the youngest pupils in Primary 1 would have a detrimental effect on him. One of the lobbying group, Julie Thomas, principal of Clandeboye Primary School in Bangor, County Down, said: "Every year, we notice a group of children who we feel are not ready to be in the primary school classroom.
'Parental choice'
"I think that having a rule that is basically one-for-all doesn't allow for individuals," she said.
"I don't think children are born like that and there has to be some flexibility in the system to allow parental choice.
"Parents know their children best and there has to be some measure for them to be heard.
"I did make a tentative inquiry to the Belfast education board and I was told his needs would be met in Primary One. I was basically told there was no leeway on this matter."
Julie Thomas, principal of Clandeboye Primary School in Bangor, County Down, said: "Every year, we notice a group of children who we feel are not ready to be in the primary school classroom.
"Usually, those children are young-for-age children who turned four around May and June.""Usually, those children are young-for-age children who turned four around May and June."
Ms Thomas said some of those younger children were distressed when they came to school and it could take weeks and months for some of them to settle in.Ms Thomas said some of those younger children were distressed when they came to school and it could take weeks and months for some of them to settle in.
"They really suffer from that detachment from the parent in the morning. Even though we do the revised curriculum that is designed very much for the younger child and of which we are proud, it is still not adequate for these children."They really suffer from that detachment from the parent in the morning. Even though we do the revised curriculum that is designed very much for the younger child and of which we are proud, it is still not adequate for these children.
"We should look towards the English and Scottish models and the model for the Republic of Ireland where parents have a say if they feel their child is not ready for this setting."We should look towards the English and Scottish models and the model for the Republic of Ireland where parents have a say if they feel their child is not ready for this setting.
"If a pre-school practitioner and even our year one practitioners feel the children are not ready, we should be able to defer their entry to start at age five.""If a pre-school practitioner and even our year one practitioners feel the children are not ready, we should be able to defer their entry to start at age five."
Mark Langhammer of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said the group had made the argument to the assembly three years ago., Mark Langhammer of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said: "This is an invest-to-save issue. By spending a little bit on a limited number of pre-school places, we would reduce the need for educational psychologist referrals, special educational needs later on and, in fact, in education terms, we believe performance would improve.
They addressed the Stormont Education committee on Wednesday.
"Our take on it is that the minister is in listening mode," he said.
"This is an invest-to-save issue. By spending a little bit on a limited number of preschool places, we would reduce the need for educational psychologist referrals, special educational needs later on and, in fact, in education terms, we believe performance would improve."
FlexibilityFlexibility
The ATL is working along with parents, not to change the system, but to introduce flexibility within it. "We are not seeking a change of school starting age, we are simply seeking flexibility for some categories of children - those who are younger; adoptive children; multiple birth children and looked after children," he added.
"We are not seeking a change of school starting age, we are simply seeking flexibility for some categories of children - those who are younger; adoptive children; multiple birth children and looked after children," he said.
Mr Langhammer said he felt there was cross-party political support for more flexibility on school starting age.
"They know the arguments now and there would be a groundswell of movement towards flexibility," he said.
"But we are only catching up here. Scotland does this without contention and very simply. The Republic of Ireland does it.
"Just a few week ago Elizabeth Truss, the schools minister in England, on the same legislative base, issued a circular that is supportive, whereas the legislation here is interpreted negatively."
He said that for parents, the issue was "incredibly frustrating" and that the educational authorities' guidance was "not helpful".
According to NFER, in England, children reach compulsory school age at the start of the school term following their fifth birthday. Most children enter primary school before they reach compulsory age and spend a year in reception class.According to NFER, in England, children reach compulsory school age at the start of the school term following their fifth birthday. Most children enter primary school before they reach compulsory age and spend a year in reception class.
In Scotland, the age is five, but many start at four years old because schools have a single intake in September. Local authorities set a cut-off date, usually 1 March, defining the cohort of children eligible to start school at the beginning of the following school year. This means Scottish children do not usually begin school below the age of four years and six months.In Scotland, the age is five, but many start at four years old because schools have a single intake in September. Local authorities set a cut-off date, usually 1 March, defining the cohort of children eligible to start school at the beginning of the following school year. This means Scottish children do not usually begin school below the age of four years and six months.
In Wales, as in England, children reach compulsory school age at the start of the term following their fifth birthday. However, most children enter school in the September following their fourth birthday and spend a year in reception class.In Wales, as in England, children reach compulsory school age at the start of the term following their fifth birthday. However, most children enter school in the September following their fourth birthday and spend a year in reception class.