Letter: Nursery mistake

How disturbing that Marilyne Maclaren, Edinburgh City Council's convener of education, children and families, is advising parents that their young children will benefit from an early start in primary school rather than an extra year in nursery.

Those of us who are experienced in working with children from three to eight are backed to the hilt by research from across the globe, which points to gains in the widest sense which children make by experiences and opportunities provided in high-quality nursery settings.

I accept that the Curriculum for Excellence sets out to provide a less formal approach to early education, but should there suddenly be higher numbers of under-fives joining reception classes (P1), the needs of those pupils, which are different from their more mature cohorts, will be very difficult both to plan for and to meet.

Additionally, the nurture of the five- and six-year-olds may be compromised.

Marilyne Maclaren is already leading moves to close two excellent nursery schools in Edinburgh.

It appears that this is an attempt to hammer another nail in the coffin of the nursery sector, until now so highly regarded in a national context.

Kitty Renton (Retired nursery school headteacher and advocate for young children)

Ravensheugh Road

Musselburgh