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Scottish Greens want adopt the Finnish education system by raising the school starting age to seven and introducing a play-based kindergarten stage for three-to-six-year-olds.<\/p>\n
The party says this will avoid \u201cthe negative attitudes to learning which often develop when children are pushed into formal education environments before they are ready\u201d.<\/p>\n
It would see learning undertaken through \u201ccreative play\u201d rather than \u201cformal learning\u201dand aims to improve children\u2019s wellbeing and educational outcomes later in their school career.<\/p>\n
The Greens say Scotland is an outlier compared with most other developed nations when it comes to school starting ages. Children as young as four and a half start formal primary school in Scotland but education and child wellbeing outcomes are far higher in Finland than Scotland. <\/p>\n
This has in part been credited to Finland\u2019s kindergarten system and a primary school starting age of seven.<\/p>\n
Alongside ending homework in primary schools and replacing Scotland\u2019s exam system, the Scottish Greens\u2019 say the kindergarten plan represents a \u201cbold reform\u201d of Scotland\u2019s education system.<\/p>\n
Party co-leader Gillian Mackay said: \u201cLearning doesn\u2019t just happen behind a desk. In fact, that\u2019s the worst place for young children to be. Play-based learning is far better for them and for their education. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe best performing education systems in Europe take a different approach to Scotland. They allow young children to explore the world around them with a focus on social skills, learning outdoors, play, and emotional development. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe result is happier, healthier children who have a far more positive attitude to learning throughout the rest of their time at school.\u201d<\/p>\n
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