Vol. 568 No. 2
162 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science his policy on the age at which children should start formal education; the research that has been carried out in this regard; his further plans regarding research or initiatives in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16121/03]
The compulsory school starting age in a national school is six years of age and rule 64(1) of the rules for national schools provides that a child must be at least four years of age before he may be enrolled in a national school. Of primary school pupils, 5.83% are four year olds and 11.81% are five year olds. It is the policy of my Department to continue to support the choices made by parents in regard to the age at which they wish to enrol their children in school. For most parents, in most countries, that choice appears to be about the time their child is approaching five years of age.
International comparative statistics on age of commencement of formal education show that in most countries parents make a similar choice, although the range typically varies from four to seven years of age. Research tells us that early childhood education and the curriculum should build on pupils' previous home experiences and should cater for individual differences in those experiences, in ability, needs and development. Consequently, early childhood education is less formal than in the past and emphasises the importance of play, activity, the manipulation of materials, social interaction and, above all, the centrality of language in early childhood learning. This is true of all developed countries.
The White Paper on Early Childhood Education, Ready to Learn, sets out a comprehensive strategy for the development of early childhood education for all children from birth to six years. The Centre for Early Childhood Education, which was established in 2002 at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, will have an important role to play in the development of a national quality framework for early childhood education services.
