For immediate release, 2 March 2010

Parents under undue pressure to register under fives for schooling

Scotland’s national home education charity Schoolhouse is calling  on the Scottish Government to remind local authorities of the parameters of “compulsory education age” after receiving numerous reports from parents of three and four year olds who are coming under intense pressure to “register” their children for school or risk losing a nursery place for the year until their child reaches statutory school age.

Schoolhouse convener Sheila Struthers said: “A child does not reach compulsory education age in Scotland until the August after the child’s fifth birthday, but parents are increasingly being pressurised by schools and councils to send their children to school a full year earlier. Some report being harassed into completing registration forms or deferred placement ‘requests’ for a school place they do not intend to take up.

“Others have been told that nursery places will be withdrawn for children who do not start school the August before they attain compulsory education age. Since many parents feel their children would greatly benefit from an extra year outside formal schooling, they are faced with an unscheduled ‘gap’ year if they do not comply with local council demands and have been looking into home-based education as an alternative.

“We already send children to school two years earlier than other European countries, but the ‘outcomes’ of early formal schooling, as opposed to informal play based education, are far from encouraging. It is of course cheaper in the short term, but parents are not convinced it is always beneficial for their children’s individual learning needs.”

Schoolhouse is concerned that parents are being deliberately misled into believing that they are obliged to send their four year olds  to school and that council officials are  unable to cite any relevant legislation when challenged . Writing on the Schoolhouse website after raising her concerns directly with the government, one parent commented:  “According to the Scottish government I do not have to register my almost four year old to start school in August…or ever!”  Another reported: “I declined to fill in the forms and dislike being harassed.”

Sheila Struthers said: “Although many parents who contact Schoolhouse have no intention of  home educating on a full time  basis during the compulsory education years, Schoolhouse considers all parents to be their children’s primary educators and is committed to supporting them in that role. It is parents who are legally responsible for ensuring the suitable education of their children and who are best placed to decide when and if they will benefit from formal schooling.”

ENDS

 For further information, contact the Schoolhouse press officer on 0772 962 3532 or media@schoolhouse.org.uk.