Minister for Education and Young People Cathy Jamieson updated the Scottish Parliament on the progress of the National Debate last week. An independent analysis of responses, by a research team from the University of Edinburgh, has been published following consultation with more than 20,000 people since the Debate's launch in March.
On the issue of school starting ages the analysis said, 'A few participants argued for an earlier start, claiming that children learn better when they are very young.
'On the other hand, others argued that some children are too immature to start schooling at five, and that there should be a greater focus on learning basic social skills through play before starting formal education.
There was a perception among some primary school teachers that there is an increasingly formal three-to-five curriculum and that three is too young for formal education.'
The Nursery Head Teachers Council, City of Edinburgh Council group, submitted a response saying that a formal early approach to education does not sustain children in lifelong learning. The organisation also called for a reduction in class sizes.
Many respondents argued against extending teaching hours. Teachers warned that school should not be seen as a childminding service, although it was acknowledged that schools should take account of the large numbers of children whose parents both worked full-time.
Respondents also called for more support for teachers and welcomed the introduction of classroom assistants and nursery nurses in schools.
However, the analysis said, 'several groups of teachers and parents expressed concern about exactly what the role of classroom assistants was supposed to be.
'While classroom assistants have a positive role to play in terms of helping teachers with administrative tasks and helping individuals or small groups of pupils, teachers and parents felt strongly that classroom assistants should not be viewed as an alternative to having more teachers in schools and to reduced class sizes.'
The Association of Quality Nurseries in Scotland listed recruiting, training and maintaining high quality staff as its main concerns. It argued that Government targets and expansion of places for three-and four- year-olds had brought huge staffing issues for the early years sector.
The Scottish Executive will publish its own response to the debate in 2003.
Ms Jamieson said, 'Over the next few months we will develop our full response to the views and questions expressed. I want teachers, parents and other education professionals to work with us to create the stable framework that people want, to find ways of giving more flexibility to organise learning and teaching at local level while keeping pupils at the centre of schools and schools at the heart of their communities.'
The report can be downloaded from the National Debate website www.scotland.gov.uk/nationaldebate.
Respondents included individual nurseries and childcare organisations. More detailed analysis will follow and the Executive will publish its own response in 2003.