The recent shift in admission policy by Renfrewshire Council in 2024, has resulted in an unjust disparity in access to early education for children turning three. Our children will now miss out on up to four crucial months of education, which under previous arrangements, would have been funded. This issue has directly impacted my son, forcing us to bear additional financial burdens during an already challenging cost of living crisis. The child’s place is vacant and allocated but only accessible at 3 years old if parents are willing to pay for this ‘early’ access; meaning this is purely a financial ploy but Renfrewshire council.  

Renfrewshire's policy shift affects many working families, depriving us of one of the few universal benefits - funded nursery hours for our children. As working parents, we now need to wait until the next school term for our children to receive their entitlement to early education. 

In the UK, government reports have continually upheld the importance of early childhood education, noting its role in shaping a child's cognitive, social, and emotional development. A child's learning is cumulative, and missing out on early educational exposure can have lasting effects (OECD, 2017).

Therefore, it's essential to enable all children to access their entitlement to early education from their 3rd birthday, rather than wait for the next term. It's a matter of leveraging equal opportunity, given the vital role early education plays in children's long-term development. Let us ensure that all children can access the best start to their education journey. Please sign this petition to request Renfrewshire Council to reform its nursery start dates for 3-year-olds.