MSP flags up low nursery teacher count

EDINBURGH West Liberal Democrat MSP Margaret Smith today highlighted "bitterly disappointing" figures showing a continuing decline in the number of nursery teachers in Scotland.

Statistics showed there were 1543 pre-school teachers this year, down from 1613 last year and a peak of 1686 in 2006.

Ms Smith, who is the Lib Dems' Holyrood education spokeswoman, said: "Nursery school is a vital part of our children's education, giving them an excellent learning foundation for their future.

"Nursery teachers play a crucial role in making sure children get a good education at the earliest start.

"It is bitterly disappointing, then, that the number of nursery teachers in Scotland continues to decline."

She claimed Education Minister Michael Russell was letting children down.

"Numbers have slipped each year since the SNP came to power in 2007.

"I am very concerned that if this is not reversed, children will miss out on that excellent foundation.

"Our young children deserve much better."