Lib Dems reject one-size-fits-all policy for primary school entry

12.24.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 19th Apr 2007

The Council's Education Department is considering scrapping the Spring Term entry date option. This means that all children born between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2004 would be expected to start full-time school in September 2008.

At present, our primary schools admit children to the Reception Class (Year 0) on one of two dates - the start of the Autumn Term and the start of the Spring Term (January).

Clockhouse Lib Dem Cllr Reg Adams firmly believes that many children aged less than 4½ are not ready for "big school" and would get much more benefit from being in the nursery school or pre-school groups, typically smaller, cosier environments, with a much higher adult/child ratio. Your LibDem Councillors will be actively lobbying the Children & Young People's Portfolio Holder to reject the "one size fits all" proposal for single-date entry.