Raise school starting age to seven, say Greens – Daily Business

Gillian Mackay: Scotland is an outlier (pic: DB Media Services)

Scottish Greens want adopt the Finnish education system by raising the school starting age to seven and introducing a play-based kindergarten stage for three-to-six-year-olds.

The party says this will avoid “the negative attitudes to learning which often develop when children are pushed into formal education environments before they are ready”.

It would see learning undertaken through “creative play” rather than “formal learning”and aims to improve children’s wellbeing and educational outcomes later in their school career.

The Greens say Scotland is an outlier compared with most other developed nations when it comes to school starting ages. Children as young as four and a half start formal primary school in Scotland but education and child wellbeing outcomes are far higher in Finland than Scotland.

This has in part been credited to Finland’s kindergarten system and a primary school starting age of seven.

Alongside ending homework in primary schools and replacing Scotland’s exam system, the Scottish Greens’ say the kindergarten plan represents a “bold reform” of Scotland’s education system.

Party co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “Learning doesn’t just happen behind a desk. In fact, that’s the worst place for young children to be. Play-based learning is far better for them and for their education.

“The best performing education systems in Europe take a different approach to Scotland. They allow young children to explore the world around them with a focus on social skills, learning outdoors, play, and emotional development.

“The result is happier, healthier children who have a far more positive attitude to learning throughout the rest of their time at school.”

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