THE school starting age in Scotland may be increased to six in line with most other European countries.

Under the proposal, being considered by the SNP to be debated at its conference this year in Aberdeen, youngsters would remain in nursery until they are six and then move to primary school.

Toni Giugliano, party policy development convener, put forward the resolution alongside the party's Uddingston and Bellshill, Gilmerton and Stonehaven and Mearns branch.

It calls on the Scottish Government to introduce a statutory play-based kindergarten stage for three to six-year-olds replacing the P1 year.

READ MORE: In-person SNP conference confirmed for Aberdeen this autumn

Children in Scotland usually start school between the ages of 4.5 and 5.5 years old.

But the new proposal would align with EU countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain and the Republic of Ireland and raise the formal school starting age to six. In many other EU countries including Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Finland and Poland children begin school at seven.

The resolution argues that international evidence has suggested that children in countries with later school starting ages reach a higher standard than those with earlier starts. 

It also notes that children in European countries who attend play-based kindergarten till six or seven have higher levels of health and wellbeing, while an early start to formal education is linked to the development of social, emotional and mental health problems.

The motion urges the SNP conference to note that Scotland and the UK were “outliers in Europe” in starting formal education at four or five.

The resolution goes on to say: “Conference recognises the body of international evidence in favour of play-based early years education. 

"Active, social play is children’s natural learning drive and helps develop physical fitness, social skills, cognitive capacities and personal qualities such as creativity, problem-solving, self-regulation and emotional resilience. 

"Conference notes that children in European countries who attend play-based kindergarten till six or seven enjoy higher levels of health and wellbeing. 

"Conference further notes that Scotland and the UK are outliers in Europe in starting formal education at four or five, and acknowledges that since international PISA comparisons began, countries with later school starting ages have performed better than those with earlier starts."

It claims the plan would help to close the attainment gap after the Scottish government came under fire earlier this year for abandoning a flagship pledge to close it by 2026.

The resolution noted: “In order to succeed in closing the attainment gap, early years education must be based on relationship-centred, child-led, play-based environments with a greater focus on outdoor learning.”

READ MORE: SNP policy chief reveals plan to shake up party's conference

It concluded: “Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government to introduce a statutory play-based kindergarten stage for three to six-year-olds – similar to early years education in Nordic countries – and raise the formal school starting age to six.

“This will provide a true level playing field for all of Scotland’s children, giving every child time to develop the skills and capacities that underpin educational success, improve long-term outcomes and give every child the best start in life.”

A decision on whether the motion will be included on the final SNP conference agenda will be decided by the party's conferences committee in due course.