§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the working of the arrangements for admission to school or rising five-year-olds in Scotland; and what guidance his Department gives to education authorities on one term entry and the provision of pre-school education.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 23 November 1992]: The fixing of school commencement dates is a matter for education authorities to determine in accordance with the provisions of section 31 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. At present, all education authorities set a single school commencement date at the start of the school session and admit children to school on that date if their fifth birthday falls between the preceding and the following February, though they have discretion to admit younger children if they wish. The provision by education authorities of pre-school education is entirely a matter for each authority. My right hon. Friend has issued no guidance on this, nor on the question of whether one or more commencement dates should be set.