“Current deferral policy across Scotland tends to be focused on crudely financial decisions, rather than having individual children’s developmental needs at its heart.
“This difficulty can be compounded if communication with parents is poor, information about the process is opaque, and parents are made to feel like they are asking for a special privilege – rather than something that is in the absolute best interests of their child and family.
“The planned expansion of childcare offers an opportunity to address these problems and reform policy in this area. The Scottish Government must seize that opportunity.
“Until that happens, Children in Scotland supports the aims of the Give Them Time campaign and joins them in calling for a more intelligent, sensitive and child-centred approach to deferral and the school starting age.”
Give Them Time 