HC Deb 12 June 1969 vol 784 cc1642-3
6. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to provide for the admission of children to school at four years of age in all areas or on a voluntary basis in the education priority areas.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Miss Bacon)

Local educaton authorities do not need my right hon. Friend's permission to admit children below the age of five to existing classes.

Mr. Roberts

Would my right hon. Friend not consider urging them to do so? Does she not agree that this has perhaps a more important immediate contribution to make than raising the school leaving age? Is she aware that it is felt by many teachers, particularly in some priority areas, that children these days often come in at the age of five who have not seen a book and have no knowledge of primitive hygiene, and that, while play groups have a rôle to play, they take too much of a middle-class entry?

Miss Bacon

I would not like to enter into a discussion of the respective merits or demerits of raising the school leaving age and providing nursery education. But we have recently embarked on the urban programme, which means that, for the first time since the end of the war, we shall be expanding nursery education About a quarter of the four-year-olds are either in school or nursery classes at present. There are 212,000 four-year-olds in primary schools.

Mrs. Renée Short

Is my right hon. Friend aware that what both teachers and parents passionately need is a rapid expansion of nursery education for children all over the country between the ages of three and five? Will she bear that in mind and see what she can do to get more money for it?

Miss Bacon

I quite agree. We have made a start and want to go on as soon as we have the resources in terms both of teachers and of the money for building. We regard this as a matter of high priority.