Plan to delay some children starting primary school until age 7 in Scotland

Plan to delay some children starting primary school until age 7 in ScotlandA new proposal has suggested a play-based kindergarten for ages 3-6, delaying school to 7, aiming to boost wellbeing and learning by moving away from early formal educationCommentsNewsCally Brooks Features Writer14:09, 14 Apr 2026Updated 14:09, 14 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesThe new proposal is being discussedA new plan for a major shake-up of early years education has been proposed, including the introduction of a new kindergarten stage for children aged three to six that would focus on play-based learning rather than traditional classroom teaching.‌Under the proposals, from Scottish Greens, young children would be taught by specially trained kindergarten teachers in an environment designed to prioritise creativity, exploration and social development. The party says the approach would mark a significant shift away from more formal education methods currently used in the early years of primary school.‌Central to the plan is the idea of delaying the start of formal schooling until the age of seven, though only for children in Scotland. At present, children in Scotland can begin primary school as young as four and a half, something the Greens argue is unusually early compared to other developed nations.‌READ MORE: Rachel Reeves hits out at Donald Trump Iran war 'folly' hitting UK familiesREAD MORE: Keir Starmer sends urgent warning to Israel over Lebanon strikes as pressure mountsView 2 ImagesEducation could be delayed under the plansThey believe this early start can have a negative impact, with some children developing poor attitudes towards learning if they are pushed into structured environments before they are ready.Instead, the proposed kindergarten phase would emphasise "learning through play", with activities designed to build confidence, communication skills and emotional understanding.‌The party claims that this method not only benefits children’s wellbeing in the short te...