To ask the Minister of Education (i) for his assessment of the issue that not all children are ready to start formal schooling at four years of age; (ii) to detail how parental concerns that their child is not ready to start school is addressed in the new guidance on school starting age; and (iii) whether he plans to introduce any flexibility on school starting ages in the future.

The foundation stage of the curriculum is specifically designed to provide an age-appropriate education for pupils in Years 1 and 2. The foundation stage provides teachers with flexibility to use their professional judgement and adapt their teaching to best meet the needs of their pupils and to provide for diagnostic assessment, which will provide greater opportunities for teachers to pick up earlier on pupils with particular difficulties.

The Education Authority published its “School Starting Age – A Guide for Parents” on 29 October 2015. This guidance covers a range of issues associated with school starting age, including advice for parents who are worried that their child is not ready to start school.

I have said before that I am keen to introduce flexibility on school starting age in certain circumstances but this will require a change to primary legislation.