Question reference: S5W-27236
- Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 3 February 2020
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 March 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what timetable it has set to bring forward legislation to automatically entitle four-year-olds who are born between August and December to funded early learning and childcare in line with statutory provision for three- and four-year-olds when their parents use their legal right to defer entry to P1, as agreed by the Parliament on 2 October 2019.
Answer
The legislation will require an affirmative Scottish Statutory instrument under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The Scottish Government intends to bring forward legislation to this effect before the end of this parliamentary session in Spring 2021.
As I set out in my response to the motion of 2 October 2019, we are taking forward this change to early learning and childcare provision in partnership with education authorities, who hold the statutory duty to ensure provision of funded early learning and childcare.
Until the new legislation comes into force, local authorities will continue to have discretion over funding for August to December-born children who choose to defer primary one entry. As is the case now, Getting It Right For Every Child should underpin each decision, with local authorities working in partnership with families and professionals to make decisions in the best interests of every child.