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From YouTube: Debate: Give Them Time Campaign - 2 October 2019
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A
Can
I
write
those
members
who
wish
to
speak
the
debate
to
press
the
request
to
speak
buttons
now
and
I
call
on
the
English
to
speak
to
and
move
the
motion?
Mr.
gray,
please
six
minutes
sorry
before
I
say
that
we've
built
in
time
in
hand
in
these
debates
now
so
there's
time
for
the
intervention.
So
these
short
debates
so
there's
five
or
six
minutes
in
hanford
interventions.
You'll
meet
your
time
up
in
gray.
Please
thank.
B
You
very
much
presiding
officer
I'm,
very
pleased
to
move
this
motion
this
afternoon
in
order
to
correct
illegal
anomaly,
which
creates
real
problems
for
families
right
across
Scotland.
I
want
to
begin
by
paying
tribute
to
the
Gibson
time
campaign.
If
you
have
organized
a
remarkably
effective
campaign
to
draw
attention
to
this
injustice
and
to
gather
considerable
evidence
of
its
extent
through
their
efforts,
we
have
previously
debated
the
issue
and
the
members
to
be
brought
by
mr.
McGregor
and
questioned
the
minister
on
it
and
committee
more
than
once.
B
However,
the
time
has
come
for
Parliament
to
take
a
view
on
this
and
to
instruct
the
government
to
fix
the
matter
once
and
for
all.
For
over
30
years
since
the
1988
occasion
act,
parents
of
children
who
have
not
reached
the
age
of
five
at
the
school
start
date
have
had
the
right
to
decide
if
their
child
is
ready
for
primary
one
and
definitely
believes
they
are
not
to
the
fair
entry
to
school
until
the
following
year.
B
If
the
child's
fifth
birthday
falls
after
December
31st
in
January
or
February,
then
they
will
continue
to
receive
funded
errors
of
early
years
education
for
the
intervening
year.
However,
for
those
whose
birthday
falls
between
August
and
December,
although
that
the
Farrell
decision
is
one
for
parents,
such
funding
is
at
the
discretion
of
the
local
authority.
B
Now
most
authorities
will
not
automatically
agree
such
funding
and
the
chances
of
them
doing
so,
and
the
processes
they
apply
vary
widely
from
authority
to
Authority
families,
face
rigorous
demands
for
evidence,
and
decisions
are
taken
by
panels
of
experts
who
often
do
not
know
the
child.
Well,
at
all,
a
funding
is
refused
in
these
circumstances.
Then
there
is
a
clear
inequity,
because
family
is
worth
the
resources
to
do
so.
Can
self
fund
their
child's
nursery
hours?
B
Well,
those
who
cannot
afford
to
do
that
may
be
faced
with
no
choice
but
to
send
our
child
into
primary
one.
Even
although
there's
a
parent
do
not
believe
that
is
the
best
thing
for
their
son
or
daughter.
So,
but
even
those
who
can
pay
may
find
that
they
have
to
move
their
child
out
of
their
nursery.
If
a
local
authority
doesn't
allow
as
many
doing
self
funding
within
one
of
their
early
year,
settings,
thus
disrupting
the
child's
early
education
at
a
critical
time
now,
the
numbers
are
not
large.
Give
them.
B
Time
believes
perhaps
1,300
applications
for
discretionary
funding
in
a
year,
but
the
impact
on
families
can
be
great
indeed.
Yet
the
answer
is
straightforward.
Children.
His
entry
is
deferred
she'd
simply
continue
to
qualify
for
funded
nursery
hours
at
the
same
rate
as
three
and
four
year
olds,
so
currently
$600
rising
to
eleven
forty
hours
next
year.
B
Now,
I
know
that
the
Minister
has
listened
to
the
campaign
and
did
I
know
that
she
met
them
only
last
week
and
she
has
promised
them
improved
guidance
for
promised
them
that
she
will
produce
improved
guidance
for
local
authorities
and
improved
communication
to
make
parents
aware
of
their
rights
but
presiding
officer.
The
task
is
not
to
better
explain
this
unfair
anomaly:
it
is
to
get
rid
of
it
so
that
so
that
all
preschool
children
have
the
right
to
continuous
early
years.
B
B
So
if
parents
have
the
right
to
decide
if
their
four-year-old
is
ready
for
school
or
not
as
the
law
says
they
do,
we
must
respect
that
decision
and
we
must
protect
those
children's
rights
their
early
years
profession
and
the
way
to
do
that
is
to
change
the
law
as
their
motion
demands.
Now
the
caveat
of
the
government
amendment
are
just
unnecessary.
B
A
C
You
presiding
officer,
I'm
glad
to
have
a
further
opportunity
to
discuss
the
issue
of
school
d
federal
following
my
recent
appearance
at
the
Education
and
Skills
Committee,
when
I
made
clear
that
I
am
open
to
considering
options
in
partnership
with
local
government
pennants
and
practitioners
I'd
like
to
take
this
opportunity
to
put
on
the
record
my
thanks
to
the
give
them
time
campaign
for
their
tireless
work
to
highlight
this
issue.
I
also
want
to
recognize
their
efforts
to
support
parents
at
what
I
know
can
be
a
challenging
time.
C
I
met
with
the
members
of
the
campaign
again
on
Friday
and
they
updated
me
on
their
work,
the
progress
that
they
have
seen
in
the
last
year
and
what
they
still
think
needs
to
be
done.
At
the
moment.
All
children
who
are
still
fought
at
the
start
of
the
school
year
can
be
deferred
and
start
primary
one
the
following
year.
This
flexibility
allows
parents
to
assess
whether
their
child
is
ready
or
not
for
school
and
to
make
the
right
choice
for
their
child
and
is
a
real
strength
of
the
Scottish
education
system.
Yes,
Daniel.
D
C
I
wouldn't
agree
with
that,
but
if
you
allow
me
to
continue,
as
you
know,
when
parents
choose
to
defer
school
start
only
those
children
with
a
birthday
in
January
or
federal
to
another
year
of
funded
early
learning
and
childcare,
presiding
officer
before
I,
go
on
to
discuss
our
amendment
I
think
it's
important
to
recognize
that
children
of
all
ages
and
abilities
should
all
be
supported.
Well
in
the
school
environment,
when
I
spoke
to
the
Education
and
Skills
Committee.
C
C
I
just
have
answered,
and
I
certainly
will
answer
it
more
fully.
If
you'll
allow
me
to
progress,
it's
a
real
strength
of
our
system.
That
Scotland
has
a
fully
integrated
3
to
18
curriculum
that
is
flexible
enough
to
empower
practitioners
to
use
local
approaches
that
suit
their
learning
learners,
presiding
officer.
The
issue
of
school
de
ferrol
has
had
a
high
profile
since
the
give
them
time
campaign
launched
almost
a
year
ago.
There
have
been
a
lot
of
changes
in
that
year.
The
information
available
to
parents
has
improved.
C
There
have
been
many
more
local
discussions
about
the
federal
policy.
The
decision
to
defer
your
child
is
not
one
that
parents
will
take
easily.
It
is
essential
that
this
decision
is
based
on
the
well-being
of
the
individual
child
and
not
based
on
access
to
early
learning
and
childcare.
For
this
reason,
presiding
officer,
we
do
intend
to
bring
forward
legislation
to
entitle
all
children
whose
school
start
is
deferred
to
access
funded,
early
learning
and
childcare
in
the
deferred
year.
There
is,
however,
important
preparatory
work
to
be
undertaken
with
our
local
government.
C
Colleagues,
first-
and
our
amendment
recognizes
this
in
line
with
the
principles
of
local
moorthi,
it
is,
of
course
essential
that
we
take
forward
this
commitment
with
the
agreement
of
local
government
following
proper
assessment
of
the
resources
implications.
Local
authorities
are
working
incredibly
hard
to
prepare
for
August
2020,
so
we'll
need
to
consider
together
a
manageable
implementation
timetable.
C
F
I'm
III
think
we've
already
heard
from
you
agree
on
excellent
summary
of
what
the
problem
is,
and
people
wouldn't
be
shouting
out
from
the
SNP
back
Banshees.
If
they've
been
listening
to
that,
because
this
problem
has
been
around
for
a
while,
I,
wouldn't
repeat
again
the
nature
of
the
problem.
But
let
us
be
clear
from
the
outset:
if
we
believe
in
empowering
parents
and
respecting
their
decisions
around
deferment,
then
we
need
to
ensure
that
action
is
taken
now
to
address
this
unacceptable
inconsistency.
F
That's
been
created,
campaigners
have
been
asking
for
some
considerable
time
for
equity
transparency
and
the
correct
advice
and
information
to
be
given
that
shouldn't
be
beyond
us,
and
it
shouldn't
just
be
a
case
of
starting
discussions.
Now
the
government's
come
very,
very
slow
to
this,
and
the
fact
that
this
anomaly
has
not
been
fixed
already
to
me
of
the
lack
of
priority.
The
SNP
government
have
attached
to
this
issue
once
again
playing
lip
service
to
equity
and
excellence
in
our
education
system.
F
The
give
them
time
campaign
have
done
a
tremendous
job
and
rightly
deserve
our
gratitude
for
ensuring
this
issue
was
not
allowed
to
be
forgotten
or
pushed
aside.
That's
why
I
before
I
move
on
presiding
officer,
I
would
like
to
again
place
on
the
record
in
this.
To
be
my
disappointment,
the
challenging
educational
issues
for
this
SNP
government,
when
they
ever
seemed
to
be
debated
in
opposition
time
and
I,
would
again
ask
the
Minister
and
Deputy
First
Minister
to
reflect
on
that
and
ask
themselves
whether
their
head
in
the
sand
approach
really
inspires
confidence
for
parents.
F
Indeed,
anyone
who
witnessed
Murray
towards
recent
appearance
at
the
Education
and
Skills
Committee,
where
the
minister
as
requesters
in
this
issue,
could
not
with
any
certainty,
see
that
the
government
had
fully
grasped
the
unfairness
I
for
one
was
unconvinced
that
simply
knowing
how
many
people
were
affected
was
really
going
to
resolve
the
practical
issue
and
that's
why
I,
despite
the
fact
that
we
on
these
benches
are
sympathetic
in
principle
with
the
government
to
the
principal
in
the
government
amendment,
we
won't
be
supporting
it
this
evening.
We
don't
think
that
it's
necessary.
F
We
think
that
the
motion
that
has
been
brought
forward
should
be
able
to
command
a
unanimous
support
across
the
chamber
and
that,
ultimately,
the
time
for
passing
the
buck
is
over,
and
we
need
to
see
this
government
responsibility
for
its
own
national
policies.
That
means
making
sure
that
they're
ruled
out
fairly
and
consistently.
It
means
ensuring
that
they're
properly
funded
and
it
means
owning
and
resolving
the
unintended
consequences.
F
Of
course,
the
Scottish
Government
should
be
working
with
local
government,
but
I
cannot
help
but
feel
this
is
another
attempt
to
hide
behind
local
government
when
the
going
gets.
Tough.
That
said,
and
in
fairness
before
I
close
I
would
like
to
pay
a
tribute
I,
as
we
thanked
those
SNP
backbenchers,
particularly
I
felt
in
McGregor
who've
worked
alongside
campaigners
to
ensure
that
this
issue
has
finally
got
the
proper
scrutiny.
It
deserves
this
government
and
this
Parliament
should
be
proud
of
supporting
families,
actually
not
discriminating
against
them,
based
on
something
as
arbitrary
as
a
birth
month.
F
It
should
respect
their
legal
rights
and
make
sure
that
they
are
supported
in
accessing
education.
Their
children
deserve
is
quite
simple.
Really
it's
about.
The
principle
is
about
fairness,
and
the
best
way
to
rectify
this
injustice
is
simply
to
bring
firstly,
discrimination
to
an
end
and
work
together
to
increase
awareness
of
parents,
legal
right
to
defer,
let's
reduce
and
remove
the
bureaucracy.
The
needs
of
the
child
must
always
come
first,
I
hope
today's
to
be.
It
can
deliver
that
and
I
hope
that
the
government
act
quickly
following
their
discussions.
Thank
you.
Thank.
E
You
presiding
officer,
and
thank
you
to
in
great
for
bringing
this
issue
to
Parliament
today,
the
age
at
which
children's
gotten
start
school
directly
impacts
on
how
ready
they
are
to
learn
and
develop.
This
isn't
a
controversial
point.
It's
something
that
we
all
agree
on.
We
know
that
children
engaging
in
a
plea
based
environment,
particularly
where
they're
socializing
with
other
children,
is
vital
to
their
development.
Again,
there's
consensus
around
this
point.
E
A
multitude
of
studies
have
shown
that
plea,
based
activities
are
crucial
for
early
development,
protect
Lee
for
the
parts
of
the
brain
responsible
for
higher
functions.
Like
variable
communication,
these
studies
show
that
play
helps
to
develop
children's
understanding
of
their
own
emotions
and
self-control
communication
in
their
relationship
with
others
and
the
cognitive
understanding
of
the
world
around
them.
E
By
contrast,
introducing
children
to
airway
to
more
formal
and
instructional
education
can
have
a
lasting
negative
impact,
resulting
in
many
developing
a
dislike
towards
education
and
experiencing
lasting
stress
across
Europe
Scotland
ranks
amongst
the
earlier
school
starters
with
children,
usually
starting
between
the
ages
of
four
and
a
half
and
five
and
a
half
and
most
EU
countries
the
starting
ages.
Around
sex
and
then
some
like
Finland
that
we
often
look
to
for
examples.
The
starting
age
of
seven
starting
school
later
means
more
time
and
opportunity
for
play
based
learning
in
an
appropriate
environment.
E
What
give
them
time
are
calling
for
would
make
this
a
far
more
viable
option
for
many
children
who
would
otherwise
be
starting
school
at
just
four
and
a
half.
In
theory,
the
youngest
children
in
each
of
your
group
can
defer
for
a
year
start
when
they're,
just
over
five
and
a
half,
but
for
many
children
here
still
under
five,
the
right
to
the
fair
is
not
automatic.
E
That
means
children
who
are
not
yet
five
being
forced
to
start
school
when
they're
not
ready
when
their
parents
believe
that
they're
not
ready
well
plea
based
learning
is
certainly
expanded
in
primary
one.
Entering
the
more
formal
environment
of
school
means
that
this
is
not
necessarily
the
best
place
to
learn,
certainly
not
at
the
age
of
four
and
a
half.
What's
the
good
word
is
happening
here,
but
our
schooling
system
is
just
fundamentally
not
designed
for
it.
There's
more
than
a
bit
of
square
peg
round
hole
going
on
with
play
based
education.
E
Deferring
the
school
starting
year
does
qualify.
Parents
of
children
born
in
January
in
February
for
another
year
of
statutory
ELC
funding,
as
has
been
mentioned
currently
for
600,
are
soon
to
be
1140,
but
if
a
child
is
born
in
August
to
December,
there
is
no
automatic
entitlement.
Instead,
it's
essentially
a
lottery
system
dependent
largely
on
individual
authorities.
This
is
unnecessary,
it's
unhelpful
and
it's
avoidable.
E
It
impacts
the
families
on
the
lost
incomes,
the
most
leaving
them
with
no
real
choice
at
all
many
children
who
would
have
benefited
from
deferred
entry
and
his
parents
would
have
chosen.
It
are
essentially
unable
to
do
so
and
they're
disproportionately
from
the
most
disadvantaged
backgrounds.
Nursery
in
preschool
simply
remains
expensive
and
out
of
reach
for
many
parents,
often
even
the
delivery
funded.
Ours
isn't
straightforward
at
present,
requiring
parents
to
max
private
and
subsidized
places.
E
If
they
can
afford
to
do
so,
and
as
in
gray
mentioned,
some
families
are
forced
to
actually
move
their
shelter
at
different
nursery
for
the
deferred
year.
That's
a
huge
disruption,
even
when
eleven
forty
hours
is
ruled
out,
it
will
only
be
the
equivalent
of
30
hours
a
week
during
school
term
time.
So
take
aside
the
challenge
of
holidays
that
doesn't
cover
full-time
hours
during
term
time.
If
you
contrast
this
with
other
European
nations,
it's
clear
that
we
still
have
some
way
to
go
on
this.
E
If
we're
to
get
it
right
for
every
child,
we
need
to
ensure
that
plea
based
early
education
is
accessible
to
all
and
in
an
appropriate
environment,
and
certainly
not
dependent
either
on
parental
income
or
the
month
of
birth
or
combination
of
both
as
a
present
I
support
the
give
them
time
campaign
because
it's
a
step
in
the
right
direction.
But
this
is
an
area
we
could
be
doing
so
much
more
in.
E
We
need
to
give
serious
consideration
to
raising
the
school
starting
age
for
all
children
and
appropriate
and
properly
funded
preschool
education
is
available
to
provide
that
vital,
play-based
education.
That
means
universal
provision
on
the
same
basis
as
the
arrow
years
of
primary
school,
but
that's
the
debate
for
another
day.
For
now,
the
Greens
are
glad
to
support
the
get.
Some
time
campaign
and
the
motion
and
in
Gray's
name
thank.
G
Thank
You
presiding
officer
I
want
to
thank
labor
for
bringing
a
car
with
this
debate
and
pay
tribute
to
the
impressive
campaign
run
by
given
time,
which
I
know
has
already
made
a
real
difference
to
many
of
our
constituents.
We
will
be
supporting
the
motion
today.
The
minister
told
the
Education
Committee
a
few
weeks
ago
and
as
she's
already
alluded
to,
the
central
government
is
very
clear
that
the
school
should
be
child
ready
rather
than
children
having
to
be
schooled
ready.
But
I
disagree
with
the
sentiment
of
that.
G
What
the
minister
is
really
saying
to
parents
who
are
minded
to
defer
children
with
August
to
December
birthdays
is
that
the
government
and
local
authority
professionals
know
best.
Let
me
be
clear
that
the
Scottish
Liberal
Democrats
want
play-based
learning
to
be
embedded
in
the
early
years
and
for
school
leaders
to
ensure
that
all
children
can
thrive
from
the
first
day
in
school.
But,
however
much
the
lambing
environment
in
the
early
years
of
school
is
designed
to
mirror
and
be
a
continuous
continuation
of
the
nursery
experience.
G
The
fact
remains
that
some
children
will
benefit
from
another
year
of
nursery
education,
and
yet
parents
are
being
forced
to
risk
their
entitlement
to
do
what
they
know
is
best
for
the
child.
There's
one
of
my
constituents,
Kay
Anderson,
explained
to
me
and
I,
quote
the
thought
of
having
to
choose
between
him
going
to
school,
where
it
had
such
a
good
experience,
or
nowhere
at
all
was
horrendous.
In
many
cases,
children
in
many
cases
parents
who
are
denied
funding
for
deferral,
are
told
that
there's
no
cognitive
reason
for
the
child
not
to
go
to
school.
G
Parents
know
that
the
best
time
for
the
child
to
attend
school
does
not
just
depend
on
their
ability
to
learn.
The
parents
know
how
important
it
is
for
the
child
to
go
through
school
with
the
friends,
the
parents
know
how
the
child
feels
before
going
and
after
coming
home
from
nursery
and
parents
know
how
confident
the
child
is
and
how
they
adapt
to
new
environments,
and
still,
as
another
of
my
constituents
questioned,
that
may
be
undermined
quote
all
just
because
of
when
his
birthday
is
unquote.
G
These
are
crucial
factors
that
can
be
missed
when
arms-length
decisions
are
taken,
as
seems
to
be
happening
too
often.
Let
me
remind
the
chamber,
presiding
officer
that
the
school
starting
age
was
set
in
1870
to
free
up,
cheap
labor
in
factories
were
much
more
informed
of
child
development.
Now,
what's
more,
as
we've
heard,
it's
misleading
to
speak
as
if
parents
of
children
who
would
defer
at
receiving
an
extra
free
nursery
a
year,
those
children
could
have
received
a
year
less
of
early
years
education
than
those
who
would
be
in
the
peer
group
at
school
reform.
G
Scotland's
briefing
closing
the
early
years
gap
set
so
clearly
how
some
children
could
start
school.
Having
missed
out
on
over
a
thousand
hours
of
plea,
based
learning,
so
we're
in
a
situation
whereby
some
parents
have
to
apply
to
receive
their
full
funded
ELC
entitlement
at
the
local
authority's
discretion.
G
That's
created
an
unacceptable
postcode
lottery
and
it's
not
consistent
with
this
government
theme
of
closing
the
attainment
gap,
and
if
we
must
bring
economics
into
decisions
that
are
fundamentally
about
getting
it
right
for
every
child,
then
that
equation
is
surely
canceled
out
by
the
benefits
that
will
be
seen
through
the
child's
educational
career
and
beyond.
The
right
to
D.
Fair
is
an
important
one,
and
the
government
must
bring
forward
the
necessary
legislation
to
allow
parents
to
exercise
that
right.
H
D
You
presiding
officer
and
I'm
very
pleased
to
be
speaking
in
this
debate
in
support
of
the
given
time
campaign,
because
the
simple
reality
is
this:
that
the
moment
when
you
send
your
five-year-old
to
school
is
always
an
anxious
moment
for
any
parent.
You
worry
about
how
they're
going
to
get
on
and
whether
they're
ready,
that's
especially
true
if
it's
not
a
five-year-old
just
ending
to
school,
but
a
for
you
and
I
think
that
the
and
that's
not
just
an
emotional
point
or
a
decision
for
a
parent.
D
It's
a
reasonable
one,
because
we
know
that
happy
children,
confident
children
well,
socialized
children
will
learn
better
in
school.
What's
more,
the
science
is
very
clear
as
well
study
after
study
as
Ross
Korea
point
that
shows
that
later
starts
improve
educational
outcomes,
but
also
their
older
children
do
better
than
younger
children
in
their
class.
So,
therefore,
it
is
right
that
sure
that
parents
are
given
the
option
to
defer
a
child
who's,
not
yet
five
at
the
point
that
the
school
year
starts
and
that's
exactly
what
the
law
currently
does.
D
D
First
of
all,
it's
right
that
we
look
to
give
every
child
the
very
best
start
that
we
can
in
their
education,
but
also
it's
important
for
working
families
that
early
years
provision
is
put
in
place,
but
what
they
have
done
is
create
an
absurd
gap,
because
the
early
years
provision
stops
before
a
school
provision
necessarily
has
to
start.
We
have
two
dates:
September
4
early
years
provision,
but
as
December
3,
the
other
we
were
in
December
4
early
as
provision,
but
September
4
school.
D
So
the
question
is
this:
surely
if
this
policy
of
extending
earlier
is
right,
then
it
should
be
in
place
for
as
long
as
it
is
needed.
Quite
simply,
this
is
a
gap
that
needs
to
be
fixed,
because
this
is
something
that
needs
to
be
fair
for
all
families.
Now,
coming
to
the
SNP
amendment,
they
do
recognize
the
issue
and
I
I
welcome
their
recognition
of
it,
but
it
focuses
on
two
things
which
I
think
are
incorrect.
One
is
funding
now,
first
of
all,
fundamentally
the
extension
of
our
early
years.
D
Now,
of
course,
there
should
be
discretion
around
how
education
policy
is
delivered
at
a
local
level,
but
not
on
everything
we
set
standards
at
a
national
level.
We
don't
leave
it
up
to
schools
at
what
age
they
have
to
start
teaching
children
that
set
out
in
law.
We
don't
leave
it
up
to
local
authorities
whether
they
provide
early
years
education.
D
We
say
that
they
have
to,
and
this
is
another
point
another
standard,
but
I
think
that
we
should
be
saying
local
authorities
have
to
uphold
that
they
have
to
extend
early
years
provision
for
late
birthday
children,
but
the
other
issue
with
the
SNP
amendment
is
that
there's
only
two
parties
really
acknowledged
in
terms
of
this
decision:
central
government
and
local
government.
The
reality
is
this:
is
a
decision
not
to
be
made
by
either
of
them?
It's
a
decision
for
parents.
They
should
have
the
right
to
decide.
H
D
I
I
It's
also
said
in
the
may
name,
if
they
got
some
taken
campaign,
is
as
a
simple
principle
that
appearance
should
decide
whether
the
four-year-old
should
start
skill
as
fair
as
the
law,
and
no
one
argues
with
that,
and
likewise,
there
is
no
argument
made
by
the
campaign
that
there
should
be
deferment
for
all
four-year-olds
a
standard.
Indeed,
far
from
it,
there's
a
general
consensus
among
the
campaign
that
a
majority
will
continue
to
send
their
children
when
they
are
4f
eligible
to
do
so.
I
It's
simply
about
individual
circumstances,
for
every
child
and,
as
I
said
in
the
members
to
be
here
last
me
and
Tom
Island
of
the
campaign.
I
was
not
aware.
The
children
born
between
September
and
December
could
be
the
failed
I'm
in
a
position
personally,
we'll
have
more
impact
in
only
areas.
My
children,
where
and
well
both
be
over
five
were
in
starting
skill.
However,
the
campaign's
have
to
highlight
the
issue
more
broadly.
I
I
As
all
others
have
said
already,
the
difficulty
arises
not
from
the
principle
of
the
law,
but
in
councils
are
going
through
an
additional
year
of
funding
and
there
are
wide
variations
and
her
current
source
approach
that
so
she
what
has
been
brought
to
my
attention
and
that
for
many
other
areas,
peace
here
in
the
chamber,
other
families
are
often
put
through
a
wretched,
time-consuming
and
stressful
processes.
Thank
include
collecting
information
from
various
professionals
such
as
in
Austria
speech
and
language.
I
Social
work
in
many
others,
which
is,
is
a
valuable
time
for
one
thing:
loss,
resource
and
experience
only
often
for
a
panel
to
some
things,
then
refuses
the
federal
request
and
for
an
appeal
process
to
start
and
again
as
a
highlighted
young,
the
main
bust
of
in
I
think
has
been
recognized
by
them.
The
minister
there's
a
real,
a
quality
issue,
and
this
at
the
core
of
this
process
and
the
subsequent
appeal
process.
I
With
more
affluent
families,
they
clearly
been
able
to
put
resources
into
challenging
the
sessions
and
ultimately
getting
more
favorable
outcomes
or
a
more
regular
basis.
Now
I
disagree
with
him
with
some
of
the
members
are
looking
today,
because
I
know
that
the
minister
and
the
government
have
reflected
in
these
issues
sense
the
members
to
be
enough
welcomed
escapes
that
the
Scottish
Government,
hey
I,
have
taken
in
just
last
week,
for
example,
and
as
chamber
the
Minister
we
after
it,
it
and
I
responds
to
me
desire
to
the
flesh.
I
She
starts
decadence
and
hold
a
public
consultation
and
I
welcome
a
both
the
motion
from
Ingrid,
but
also
the
amendment
before
what
today
and
I
think
that
that,
as
a
probably
broad
consensus
as
a
chamber
that
we
could
reach
and
I
would
ask
if
the
party
politics
him
as
in
played
a
today,
I'd,
also
like
to
mention,
as
I
said
earlier,
in
North
on
sharing.
So
he,
along
with
folk
up
council,
are
leading
the
way
on
that.
So
she
has
an
agenda
here.
I
In
North,
wanna,
chair,
emotion,
brought
followed
by
a
CMP
Council
announced
Dobbs
was
unanimously
agreed
by
all
parties,
making
it
a
the
poorest
in
the
air
and
North
Lanarkshire
I
was
a
crate
in
college,
but
I
thought
it
was
a
possibility.
We
could
didn't
cut
each
other
councils
to
formal
suits
all
over
the
the
course
of
the
summer
recess
near
and
fallen.
Another
meeting
with
a
captain
thing
campaign.
I
looked
every
cone
so
across
Scotland.
I
Its
coffers
go
well
that
some
Janet
after
Billy
for
automatic
funding
as
available
or
alderman
skill,
Tea,
Room
and
again
pres
ain't
no
start
to
finish
off.
I'd
like
to
pay.
My
heart
feel
thanks
to
the
members
of
the
government
in
campaign
whose
tenacity
and
determination
have
brought
a
stress
point
thanks
all.
J
You
deputy
was
saying
officer
and
can
I
thank
you
agree
for
bringing
this
debate
forward
in
labor
party
time,
but
can
also
P
credit
to
filter
McGregor,
not
just
for
his
remarks
in
the
debate
this
afternoon,
but
for
his
members
to
be
and
I
think
for
all
the
work
that
you
personally
have
undertaken
with
the
give
them
time
campaign.
You've
done
a
wonderful
job
in
that
I
think
we
all
all
of
you
a
lot
of
gratitude
for
about
well
I,
think,
deputy
presiding
officer.
J
It
is
important
to
see
this
debate
in
the
context
of
what
are
the
best
educational
interests
of
young
children
as
they
approach
primary
school
age,
and
that
course
is
in
the
context
of
girfec,
which
has
already
been
mentioned
by
a
couple
of
speakers
this
afternoon,
and
that's
very
relevant,
of
course,
to
these
based
educational
interests
and
then,
of
course,
there
is
also
the
context
of
extending
parental
choice.
The
debate
comes
also
at
the
time
when
there
are
much
wider
debates
about
what
is
the
best
age
to
start.
J
Firstly,
that
the
deferment
of
a
four-year-old
child
should
be
based
on
the
decision
of
a
parent
or
guardian,
and
while
many
parents
choose
to
send
their
children
to
school,
whilst
the
child
is
still
aged,
four,
there
are
others
who
would
choose
to
defer
entry
for
all
sorts
of
different
reasons,
and
they
have
a
right
to
in
law.
To
do
so.
The
second
principle
which
the
campaigners
point
out
is
that
of
a
level
playing
field.
J
If,
as
parents,
you
make
the
decision
to
defer
entry
for
your
child
because
he
or
she
has
the
january/february
birthday
that
Ian
gray
described,
then
you
will
automatically
be
entitled
to
that
additional
year
of
preschool
funding.
But
that's
not
the
same.
For
those
who
have
birthdays
later
in
the
year,
so,
instead
of
there
being
an
automatic
entitlement,
the
decision
for
funding
is
at
the
discretion
of
the
local
authority,
often
involving
those
who
have
very
little
knowledge
of
the
child.
J
So
obviously
that
means
that
there
are
four
faiths
who
are
not
so
aware
and
may
easily
lose
out
because
of
the
lack
of
awareness
of
their
entitlement,
and
that
is
surely
a
very
worrying
situation
for
us
and,
whilst
I
think
it
is
clear
to
credit
the
government
with
some
progress,
there
is
still
enough
a
lot
more
to
be
done
to
ensure
that
there
is
a
proper
level
playing
field
to
read
out
any
automatic
discrimination.
Indeed,
given
the
feedback
to
the
given
time
campaign,
it's
perhaps
the
area
of
public
information
that
needs
the
greatest
attention.
J
J
If
they
feel
that
there
is
an
injustice,
less
well-off
parents
might
struggle
a
little
bit
more
to
know
what
their
rights
are
and
therefore
their
children
are
more
at
risk
of
losing
out
and
I'm
quite
sure
that
the
Scottish
government
would
not
countenance
the
continuation
of
a
policy
which
engenders
inequality.
The
Scottish
Government
must
surely
work
with
local
authorities
to
ensure
that
they
offer
parents
who
have
chosen
to
defer
entry,
fully-funded
nursery
provision
for
the
year
of
their
deferment,
and
the
statistical
analysis
suggests
that
the
cost
should
be
relatively
minimal.
J
Indeed,
there
are
some
who
actually
believed
that
they
could
reduce
cost
savings.
But
let
me
finish
on
this
point
of
I
think
considerable
principle.
There
is
an
inherent
difficulty
with
this
policy
and
it's
on
that
basis,
where
I
think
we
need
to
make
the
legislative
change,
because
if
we
are
true
to
the
principle
of
girfec,
it
is
about
the
best
interests
of
every
child
is
exactly
what
the
1980
Education
Scotland.
K
You
presiding
officer
I
want
to
start
today
by
paying
tribute
my
friend
and
colleague,
Houston
MacGregor,
who
first
brought
the
given
time
campaign
to
the
chamber
and
me
of
this
year
as
members
business,
and
also
to
thank
the
members
of
the
give
them
time
campaign
group
for
all
their
tenacious
work
on
this
issue,
and
it
also
should
be
set
in
clay
for
bringing
forward
today's
motion
for
debate.
As
has
been
said,
they
given
time
campaign
advocates
for
a
more
transparent,
consistent
and
a
child.
K
Centered
approach
to
funding
deferred
school
starts
across
Scotland
graphic,
which
underpins
our
education
system
and
Scotland
is
rooted
in
a
tell
centred
approach,
so
the
aspirations
of
the
given
time
campaign
are
from
the
outset.
In
line
with
our
current
educational
landscape,
the
Kevin
Tyne
campaign
is
focused
on
giving
parents
or
a
legal
guardian,
the
rights
to
fair
their
four
year
old
from
school
education
and
as
the
Labour
Party's
motion
states.
K
Under
the
education
Scotland
act,
1988
parents
already
have
the
legal
right
to
defer
their
shells
entry
to
primary
education
if
they
are
not
a
five
years
old
by
the
commencement
of
the
school
year.
1980
was
a
different
time
or
so
I
am
told
in
Scottish
classrooms.
The
belt
was
still
in
use
and
I.
Remember
a
former
boss
telling
me
how,
as
a
young
teacher,
she
was
taught
how
to
belt
with
the
head
teacher
lining
up
staff
and
encouraging
them
to
practice
on
a
desk.
K
It
is
therefore
important
to
reflect
upon
how
much
has
changed
in
Scotland
since
the
1980s,
the
given
time
campaign
is
rooted
in
giving
parents
a
greater
say
about
their
child's
school
readiness,
and
empowering
parents
is
central
to
the
Scottish
Government's
ambitions
around
causing
the
poverty-related
attainment
gap.
Astronomer
fee,
who
is
the
chair
of
the
National
parent
forum,
has
said.
Parents
should
know
their
rights,
so
they
can
decide
what
is
best
for
their
individual
child.
K
Compared
to
more
than
80
percent
of
parents
who
knew
about
their
rights
defer
entry
if
their
child
was
born
in
January
or
favourtie,
that
knowledge
gap
Elizabeth
talked
about
is
about
local
authorities
effectively
communicating
with
parents
and
carers
about
their
race,
but
I
think
there's,
perhaps
also
a
rule
for
a
central
government
to
support
that
work
at
a
national
level.
Libros
motion
today
demands
action
from
the
school
government
and,
as
Minister
house
confirmed,
the
action
will
be
taken.
K
If
they
are
not
five
at
the
start
of
the
school
year,
they
will
not
automatically
qualify
for
the
funded
early
childcare,
and
that
is
a
matter
for
each
individual
local
authority,
as
it
really
should
be
if
we
are
to
adhere
to
the
spirit
of
localism.
As
has
been
reported
this
morning,
more
than
46,000
said,
children
across
Scotland
are
already
benefitted
from
extra
hours
of
high-quality
early
learning
and
childcare
thanks
to
the
Scottish
Government,
and
the
main
aims
around
that
expansion
are
really
threefold.
K
First
of
all,
to
improve
children's
outcomes
and
to
help
close
the
poorest
heat-related
attainment
gap.
Secondly,
to
increase
family
resilience
to
improved
health
and
well-being
of
children
and
parents
and
thirdly,
to
support
parents
into
work,
study
or
training.
Quality.
Early
learning
and
childcare
is
really
crucial
for
all
children,
presiding
officer,
Ross,
clear
mentioned
earlier
on
about
play
based
learning
and
I
was
in
an
office
and
Warwick
primary
school
and
a
couple
of
weeks
ago
and
I
meant
with
the
creamery
one
class,
we
were
learning
all
about
being
in
the
police
and
on
opening
the
door.
K
I
was
surrounded
by
tiny,
four
and
five-year-olds
Lots
them
wanting
to
hug
me
and
some
of
them
take
me
by
the
hand.
It
was
quite
a
surreal
experience
for
a
former
secondiy
teacher.
The
entire
classroom
in
water
is
set
up
to
enable
play-based
learning.
The
rules
of
that
I
would
have
learned
out
in
1989
were
gone.
The
blackboard
a
distant
memory,
the
head
teacher,
explains
to
me
that
the
importance
of
giving
a
structured
time
to
play
was
integral
to
your
pupils
development,
many
of
whom
might
not
get
the
opportunity
to
play
at
home.
K
Our
education
system
has
moved
on
from
the
Education
Act
of
1980
when
I
have
a
national
curriculum
which
really
puts
the
learner
at
its
heart,
and
it's
supporting
that
give
them
time
campaign.
Today.
We
are
also
acknowledging
the
importance
of
parents
in
knowing,
when
their
child
is
ready
to
begin
school.
Thank
You.
L
This
might
not
be
the
first
time
the
Parliament
has
debated,
they
give
them
tank
campaign,
but
it
is
the
first
time
you
have
a
vote
on
the
proposal.
I
feel
the
support
the
parent
or
Kira's
right
to
defer
the
start
of
school
until
their
child
is
five
and
will
vote
to
my
tonight
for
automatic
entitlement
to
a
nursery
place,
but
a
deferred
year
and
I
took
part
in
the
members
debate
and
me
brought
forward
by
filter
McGregor.
It
is
clear
that
there
is
support
for
the
campaign
across
political
parties.
L
This
is
about
addressing
an
inconsistency
in
the
law
which
give
parents
a
clear
right
to
make
a
decision
to
the
fair,
but
too
often
has
negative
consequences,
as
it
doesn't
always
provide
continuing
education.
There
is
an
inconsistent
approach
across
Scotland,
which
is
leaving
too
many
families
feeling
disempowered
under
an
investigation
and
disadvantaged.
We
can't
commit
this
afternoon
to
ending
this
situation
and
support
the
decisions
of
parents
about
when
their
child
is
ready.
When
the
parent
knows
they
are
emotionally
socially
intellectually
ready
for
school
on
one
hand.
L
In
Scotland
we
have
legislation
which
is
clear
that
a
child
is
enough
to
start
school
until
they
are
aged
five
and,
on
the
other
hand,
children
expected
to
start
school
at
age.
Four
of
their
birthday
is
between
school
commencement
and
December
parents,
whose
child
is
fought
in
January
or
December
have
the
choice
to
defer
the
child's
entry.
But
this
policy
is
not
consistently
applied
by
local
authorities,
and
some
parents
who
exercise
the
right
to
defer
are
not
being
provided
with
an
additional
years
nursery.
L
Please
I
have
an
issue
with
some
of
the
language
dafair
an
additional.
As
the
legislation
says,
a
child
doesn't
need
to
register
with
a
school
prior
to
a
first
birthday.
Why
is
it
then
seen
as
delete
when
it
is
true
to
the
legislation?
Also,
we
see
an
additional
year
at
nursery,
but
the
reality
is
that
these
children,
who
starts
good
at
four,
typically
have
the
least
time
at
nursery,
as
they
start
in
January
following
a
third
birthday.
So
they
only
have
one
and
a
half
years
at
nursery
rather
than
two
who
are
they?
L
So
they
are
the
youngest
in
their
school
year,
but
they
have
the
least
preschool
education.
The
debate
in
June
and
today
has
talked
a
lot
about
awareness
raising
and
parents
lack
of
knowledge
of
the
rated
affair.
This
is
important,
but
it
doesn't
resolve
the
issue
of
not
being
awarded
in
our
city.
Please,
a
parent
can
decide.
They
wanted
a
fair
go
through
what
some
describe
as
bureaucratic
and
difficult
assessment,
and
then
the
education
Authority
decides
they
wouldn't
support
the
Pharaoh.
Well,
the
child
can
legally
still
wait
a
year.
L
At
that
point,
there
could
be
an
initial
discussion
of
my
options.
Perhaps
then,
a
parent
could
be
offered
the
opportunity
for
a
younger
child
to
delay
the
start
of
nursery
until
the
August
antique
when
they
would
then
receive
two
full
years
of
nursery,
as
the
majority
for
their
children
do
and
then
starts
good
at
five.
If
the
body
had
he
does
financial,
this
would
result
in
no
child
receiving
any
additional
months
in
education.
L
When
I
wrote
to
look
authorities
in
my
region,
they
did
not
say
the
decisions
they
are
making
about.
Two
fellows
are
governed
by
funding.
The
number
of
families
involved
is
quite
small
and
in
many
cases
there
is
available
space
now
look
on
ours
today
to
enable
nursery
provision
to
continue
the
Gibson
time
campaign
also
make
the
third
point
that
the
savings
made
from
all
the
children
we
only
have
one
and
a
half
years
of
nursery
education
could
offset
any
additional
cost
of
the
fair
children.
We
cannot
support
the
growth
of
self
financing
of
parents.
L
M
Thank
You,
deputy
presiding
officer
can
I
also
thank
England
for
giving
us
the
opportunity
to
debate
this
crucial
issue
in
the
chamber
once
again
under
the
education
Sisko.
Unlike
1980s
we've
had
parents
have
the
legal
right
to
defer
a
child
who
is
not
yet
age,
five
or
the
school
commencement
day,
but
a
variety
of
reasons.
Many
parents
choose
to
exercise
that
rate
or
ultimately
comes
down
to
their
feelings
that
their
child
is
not
yet
ready
to
begin
primary
school
and
I'm
sure
we
can
all
appreciate
a
child's
development
is
never
predictable.
M
Hoyles
most
local
authorities
are
sympathetic
to
parents
who
wish
to
defer
their
child's
entry
to
school.
Sadly,
this
is
not
always
the
case.
Many
councils
do
not
offer
another
year's
funded
yet
appearance,
forcing
parents
to
make
a
difficult
choice
for
the
child's
future,
often
limited
by
financial
constraints.
Tell
people
saying
officers.
College
government
are
often
saying
that
the
one
to
get
a
rate
for
every
child
and
parental
choice
is
an
important
aspect
of
early
years.
M
Education,
particularly
given
that
the
ultimate
decisions
have
had
to
the
fair
entry
remains
in
the
hands
of
the
pimps,
and
today
we
have
that
opportunity
to
ensure
the
parental
choice
is
respected
after
theories
think
sometimes
parental
choice
seems
to
be
viewed
as
an
inconvenience
of
our
parents,
nor
what
is
best
for
their
child
and
the
other
decision
should
not
be
undermined
by
budget
considerations,
nor
by
original
inconsistencies
or
inaccurate
information
around
the
rated
affair.
The
seller
should
not
be
forced
to
endure
harsh,
inflexible
and,
frankly,
fraud
process
afford
processes.
M
Clare
Baker
said
that
involves
professionals,
analyzing
and
scrutinizing,
but,
most
importantly,
making
decisions
for
a
child.
Most
of
them
will
have
never
have
met.
As
we've
heard,
the
solution
is
simple.
We
have
called
repeatedly
for
an
end
to
the
unfair
loophole
of
butter
birthday.
Discrimination.
More
has
to
be
done
to
ensure
information
regarding
the
federal
rates
is
accurate
and
accessible
and
that
local
authority
education
professionals
are
fully
aware
of
the
legal
to
federal
rights
of
children,
and
this
would
ensure
some
level
of
fairness
and
otherwise
on
fair
system.
M
That's
why
this
government
must
work
with
the
local
authorities
to
ensure
all
councils
across
Scotland
are
offering
parents
of
chilled
born
between
August
and
September
the
opportunity
to
defer
and
remain
and
fully
funding
necessary
care.
Given
that
there's
no
shortage
of
problems
with
the
eleven
hundred
and
forty
hour
scheme,
we
must
ensure
that
all
early
learning
providers
are
properly
funded
so
that
children
can
receive
the
higher
level
of
care
and
education
that
we
would
expect.
M
There
are
too
many
of
scotland's
early
learning
providers
how
many
shut
their
doors
for
good
after
say,
I
had
an
Austrian
provider
and
my
office
last
week
telling
me
that
since
last
October
they
have
no
lost
50
employees
to
public
providers
as
50
valued
employees
who
have
already
developed
relationships
with
children.
I
have
to
say
so
far.
M
The
response
when
the
minister
has
been
to
stick
her
head
in
the
sand
and
stubbornly
deny
that
as
an
issue,
but
I
would
say
it
was
remarkable
and
that
the
general
post
policy
was
universally
accepted
as
the
right
direction
by
all
members
in
this
chamber,
but
in
the
implementation
methodology
has
been
universally
rejected
by
every
member.
In
this
chamber,
Barr
SNP
MSPs-
this
will
become
an
insurmountable
problem
very
soon.
If
the
minister
continues
to
ignore
the
partnership
not
to
be
pleased
and
with
all
the
devastating
consequences
are
not
supervision
that
would
follow.
M
The
Scottish
government
must
respect
the
principles
of
parental
choice,
so
that
equity
and
fairness
is
at
the
heart
of
any
legislation.
Deputy
presiding
officer
I'd
also
like
to
close
my
contribution
by
praising
the
give
them
time
campaign.
As
others
have
said,
the
campaign
has
been
a
remarkable
success
in
raising
awareness
of
this
gap
and
playing
in
his
knowledge,
and
they
say
I
was
nothing
short
of
our
most
praised.
M
N
N
Stephen,
the
Deputy
Minister
for
Education
has
announced
his
intention
to
stand
entitlement
to
publicly
funded
preschool
education
for
the
very
youngest
children
from
those
from
January
to
February
and
I'm
sure.
At
that
time
they
made
no
inconsistency
or
a
normally
down
the
line.
However,
m
2001
as
a
long
time
ago,
and
we
now
see
that
there
are
problems
faced
by
families
in
interceding
what's
in
the
best
interest
of
their
child
when
making
a
federal
decision.
N
The
guidance
at
that
time
said
they
should
be
centred
at
the
best
vendors
of
the
individual
child.
I'm
sure
that
everyone
in
the
chamber
agrees
that
that
remains
the
critical
issue.
Here.
It
has
to
be
a
decision
made
in
the
best
interests
of
the
child
and
the
going
forward
that
the
decisions
been
made
are
informed
and
that
the
information
given
to
parents
is
consistent
across
different
areas.
N
So
I
was
absolutely
delighted
to
hear
the
minister
accept
the
principles
of
the
labor
motion
at
anta,
see
that
she
will
work
constructively
with
with
causeth
partners
going
forward
to
ensure
that
am
changes
can
be
implemented
in
a
timely
fashion
and
with
the
cooperation
of
our
partners,
can
see
that
as
we're.
Seeing
from
when
you
look
at
the
intentions
of
the
decisions
to
meet
better,
then
Labrador
labor
administration
in
2001.
N
So
we
have
to
be
very
careful
that,
as
a
result
of
giving
a
right
to
this
entitlement,
as
well
as
the
right
to
defeat
all
that
it
doesn't
skew
completely
the
numbers
coming
forward
and
we
understand
what
their
unintended
consequences
may
be,
so
that
when
we
do
implement
their
say,
is
done
in
timely
and
organized
and
in
a
manner
that
doesn't
additional
pressures,
not
local
authorities,
but
has
done
in
the
best
interests
of
our
young
people.
In
Scotland.
O
Thank
you
may
I,
firstly,
find
keen
Glee
for
bringing
this
debate
to
the
chamber
and
also
plea
tribute
to
food
to
MacGregor.
I
would
also
like
to
commend
other
members
contributions
from
across
the
chamber
too
many
to
mention
individually
in
this
short
allocation
of
time.
Today's
debate
is
focused
and
give
them
times
ambition
to
end
the
unfairness
facing
many
families
whose
children
are
born
between
mid-august
and
the
end
of
December.
O
As
we've
heard,
parents
have
a
legal
right
to
defer
these
children
from
entering
p1
for
a
year
if
they
decide
they're,
not
ready
yet
to
begin
school.
However,
as
the
stands,
these
children
are
not
legally
entitled
to
automatic
funded
childcare
throughout
that
deferment
year.
This
funding
decision
is
left
to
each
individual
local
authority.
In
contrast,
children
born
in
January
in
family
entitled
to
funded
childcare
if
they
are
deferred,
I
mean
in
the
picture
for
a
child
born
in
December
may
be
totally
different
in
comparison
with
a
child
born
in
January.
O
As
a
result
of
this
leading
picture,
I
recently
submitted
Freedom
of
Information
requests
to
each
local
authority
throughout
Scotland
for
the
year
2018
19
only
3
of
the
28
that
responded
said
the
automatically
granted
this
year
of
funded
childcare
for
mid
August
to
December
of
children.
On
top
of
this,
just
15
said
that
they
granted
more
than
90
percents
of
requests
for
this
funded
year.
The
result
of
this
is
that
many
parents
who
wish
to
defer
their
child
are
unable
to
do
so
due
to
the
variance
and
policies
across
each
council.
O
All
of
this
evidence
and
the
speeches
we've
heard
today
confirm
the
inconsistency
of
the
situation
across
Scotland.
We
did
not
therefore,
have
followed
that
the
Scottish
government
would
have
made
every
effort
to
correct
this.
The
government's
amendment
today
is
of
little
surprise
to
me,
because
in
an
Education
and
Skills
committee
meeting
in
me,
the
Minister
for
children
and
young
people
told
the
committee
that
she
was
my
quote
confident
that
local
authorities
make
their
decisions
on
the
basis
of
the
best
interest
of
the
child
and
in
conjunction
with
parents.
O
And
let
us
be
clear:
today's
motion
does
not
seek
to
restrict
local
democracy.
Therefore,
I
do
not
think
that
the
government's
amendment
is
pertinent.
The
motion
is
about
correcting
the
anomaly
that
we
all
agree
exists
now,
because
deputy
presiding
officer,
there
should
be
no
anomaly.
There
should
be
a
clear
and
transparent
route
from
nursery
to
primary
school,
regardless
of
where
you
live
in
Scotland
the
decision
and
when
a
child
goes
to
school
should
be
based
on
the
parents,
opinion
of
whether
they
feel
their
child
is
ready
for
that
step.
O
C
Thank
You
presiding
officer,
and
thank
you
to
all
of
those
who
contributed
to
this
debate.
I
know
that
many
of
you
will
be
very
familiar
with
the
issues
relating
to
this
policy
and
maybe
directly
supporting
families
in
your
constituency.
I've
been
listening
to
the
concerns
from
parents
and
practitioners
and
I
commend
the
given
time
campaign
for
their
work
on
this
issue.
I've
enjoyed
working
with
them
over
the
last
year
and
I
look
forward
to
working
with
them
over
the
next
year.
Parents
are
the
primary
educators
of
their
children
and
they
know
their
children
best.
C
The
law
already
makes
clear
that
school
deferral
is
a
matter
of
parental
choice.
I
agree.
We
can
take
further
action
to
support
parents
and
carers
to
make
this
decision
based
entirely
on
the
well-being
and
needs
of
the
child
and
supported
by
the
professionals
and
practitioners
who
work
closely
with
their
I
will
now
take
forward.
The
discussions
with
our
local
government
partners
that
are
required
to
properly
assess
the
resource
implications
and
to
agree
a
reasonable
implementation
timetable
and
I
will
update
Parliament
on
this
matter
in
due
course,
certain
in
gray,
clay.
B
C
Taught,
as
I
said,
I'm
going
to
talk
to
local
government
partners
and
I
will
update
the
Parliament
on
this
matter
in
due
course.
We
all
agree.
We
all
agree
that
parents
and
carers
should
be
supported
to
make
informed
choices
about
school
start
focused
entirely
on
the
needs
and
well-being
of
that
individual
child.
We'll
continue
to
work
with
parents,
carers,
practitioners
and
their
representatives
across
the
EOC
and
school
sectors
to
ensure
that
parents
and
carers
have
access
to
information
and
to
resource
us
to
help
them
make
the
right
choice
for
their
families.
Certainly,
all.
F
C
Taught
so
I
believe
we've
made
great
progress
over
the
last
year
and
I'm
more
than
comfortable
to
work
with
local
authority
partners
and
with
parents
and
with
educators
in
to
make
progress
on
this.
It
is
particularly
important
that
parents
and
caterers
understand
the
support
that
children
will
receive
at
school
and
that's
all
the
more
important
for
children
with
additional
support
needs.
The
increase
in
statutory
entitlement
to
1140
hours
of
high
quality,
early
learning
and
childcare
will
further
help
to
support
a
child's
journey
through
the
early
phase
of
curriculum
for
excellence
and
beyond.
C
We
are
already
hearing
fantastic
stories
from
families
about
the
positive
impact
of
the
extra
hours
for
their
child's
development
and
for
their
family's
well-being.
Today,
we've
published
our
latest
progress
report
showing
that
over
40
thousand
children
and
Scotland
are
already
benefiting
from
extra
hours
almost
a
year
ahead
of
the
full
rollout
of
eleven
forty
hours.
C
A
couple,
a
number
of
colleagues
reference
play
based,
learning
and
I
know
that
educators
are
already
utilizing
play
based
learning
I
visited
lots
of
schools
where
I
wasn't
able
to
tell
the
difference
between
the
nursery
class
and
the
primary
one
class.
Ultimately,
we
should
trust
our
educators
to
deliver
education
in
the
way
which
best
suits
individual
learners.
That,
as
I
said
at
the
beginning,
is
a
real
strength
of
our
system
in
Scotland,
presiding
officer.
In
closing,
I
would
reiterate
that
it
is
right
for
us
to
recognize
parents
news
as
the
primary
educator
of
their
child.
C
It
is
also
right
that
we
support
them
and
give
them
the
information
that
they
need
to
make
an
informed
choice
with
the
well-being
of
the
child
at
the
centre.
I
put
on
record
my
thanks
to
the
give
them
time
campaign
group
and
to
Fulton
McGregor
MSP
for
their
incredible
commitment
to
ensuring
that
children
Scotland's
children
get
the
very
best
start
in
life.
Thank
you.
P
However,
I
would
like
to
welcome
and
support
the
remarks
that
have
been
made
by
angry
Oliver,
Mandel,
Daniel,
Johnson,
Chilton,
McGregor,
Westmeath,
clear
Baker
and
Jane
Eagle
Ruth
and
any
PM
using
their
legal
right
to
defer
their
child's
entry
to
school
should
be
done
with
the
knowledge
that
they
will
be
governed.
The
same
rights
as
other
children,
regardless
of
their
age
or
be
wealth
and
I
wholly
support
the
aims
of
the
campaign
campaign
and
I
to
pay
tribute
to
those
who
have
worked
hard
to
ease
this
issue.
P
Parents
have
laid
this
campaign
with
the
best
interests
of
their
child
at
the
core
of
their
ambition,
and
that's
why
the
Scottish
government
must
listen
and
must
act
on
the
wishes
of
mes
PS.
Who
vote
in
favour
of
our
motion
today
and
appearance
on
whose
behalf
we
speak.
The
Scottish
government
clearly
want
to
be
ambitious
with
the
early
learning
and
childcare,
as
has
been
demonstrated,
was
the
expansion
of
childcare.
P
So
why
not
further
demonstrate
ambition
and
do
what
is
right
for
children
born
between
August
and
December,
and
placing
the
burden
on
local
government
alone
will
not
end.
This
inequity
in
presiding
officer
is
for
that
reason
that
we
cannot
support
the
government
amendment,
an
amendment
which,
if
passed,
would
allow
them
not
to
act
and
simply
place
the
responsibility
on
local
government.
Our
motion
addresses
the
issue
of
funding
and
legislation
at
a
national
level.
P
So
once
again,
we
have
a
government
avoiding
the
issue
with
an
unnecessary
amendment,
but
that
being
said,
I
do
welcome
the
commitment
that
has
been
made
by
government
to
make
progress
on
this
issue,
but
twice
an
intervention.
You
have
been
asked
for
a
timetable
for
implementation,
and
it
is
simply
not
good
enough
to
see
that
you
will
consult
and
take
it
forward.
Q
P
Fee
the
motion
contains
an
explicit
timetable.
You
cannot
contradict
that.
Yes,
it
does.
Yes,
it
does
it
does.
We
cannot
be
in
a
situation
where
local
government
is
left
to
fix
the
situation
alone
and
presiding
officer.
A
hundred
and
a
hundred
and
thirty-eight
requests
for
an
additional
year
of
funded
nursery
were
denied
out
of
a
total
of
one
thousand
one
hundred
and
eighty
eight.
P
That
represents
more
than
one
in
ten
families
having
to
make
the
difficult
choice
to
send
their
child
to
primary
school,
even
though
they
may
not
be
ready
or
pay
for
the
service
that
other
children
are
funding
for
children.
Children
born
between
September
and
December,
who
attained
school
before
the
fifth
birthday,
receive
a
total
of
18
months
entitlement.
Six
months,
less
the
news
Borden
between
March
and
August.
This
has
been
labeled
as
birthday.
Discrimination
addressed
to
the
clear
postcode
lottery
or
policing
across
local
authorities
and
as
evident
hundreds
of
children
are
being
laid
down
every
year.
P
I'm
presiding
officer
I
would
like
to
ask
the
minister
if
she
agrees
that,
although
these
are
small
numbers,
many
more
children
and
messing
her
in
funding
for
an
additional
year
because
of
the
lack
of
information
available
and
does
she
wish
to
see
the
so
called
discrimination
and
parents
are
provided,
quotes
to
the
given
time
campaign
and
if
the
government
won't
listen
to
opposition
Amy's
piece
I
would
ask
them
to
consider
the
reality
that
many
parents
face.
I
was
continually
told.
P
I
was
putting
my
child
at
a
disadvantage
that
we
would
not
get
funding
that
it
was
not.
In
my
child's
best
interest,
the
nursery
staff
appeared
to
be
actively
encouraged
by
the
local
authority
to
discourage
parents
from
the
defero
auction
and
another
parent
said.
Myra.
Frustration
relates
to
being
told
that
my
view
was
not
required
as
part
of
the
deferral
process
being
told.
I
may
require
legal
representation
being
told
by
someone.
I
have
never
met
what
my
son
strengths
are
and
why
he
should
go
to
school.
P
When
my
views
were
the
complete
opposite,
my
list
could
go
on
and
on
nor
communication
received
for
four
months.
These
are
the
frustrated
work.
Words
of
parents
be
highly
a
lack
of
transparency,
a
lack
of
consistency
and
a
failure
to
be
child
centered,
and
by
voting
for
the
motion
today,
the
Parliament
can
collectively
play
our
part
to
help
tackle
the
achievement
gap,
particularly
for
children
from
the
pootis
by
trains
who
could
benefit
from
an
additional
year
of
nursery
before
going
to
school.
Thank
you.
R
Ellen
Smith,
thank
you
to
stay
tuned
officer,
I,
understand
in
the
earth
stanton
or
just
under
a
court
of
conduct
includes
being
respectful
to
each
other
in
this
chamber.
I
would
just
like
to
ask
if
that
applies
to
scottish
government
front
bench
who
chatted
all
the
way
through
midi
fees,
closing
speech.
H
I've,
listened
to
what
Miss
Smith
has
said.
Miss
Smith
also
knows
that
that's
for
me
to
decide,
and
what
I
would
say
is
that
it's
not
unusual
in
this
chamber
for
members
of
all
front
benches,
to
chatter
away
and
mutter
away
and
have
interchanges
out
with
the
chair
so
quite
happy
to
remind
every
member
in
this
chamber
that,
yes,
indeed,
they
should
have
respect
for
their
fellow
ms
peace.