Families of children with a “profound disability” should be given the choice of an extra year of funded early years education, argues a motion to the SNP annual conference in Aberdeen.
The motion notes that “going into the education system can be a daunting prospect for these young children and their families”, and that “all children are obliged to be in Primary 1, and in formal education, by the age of 5”.
It calls on delegates to recommend that children aged 5 who have “a profound disability with the potential to impact their education in later years...should all be considered for, and supported to remain, in early years for one additional funded year of access”.
The motion - put to members by Aberdeenshire Council SNP spokesperson for education and children’s services Louise McAllister - also explicitly calls for all Scottish local authorities to back the move.
Another motion to the SNP conference, which runs from Sunday 15 October to Tuesday 17 October, calls on the Scottish government to look at extending bursaries for young people with “significant caring responsibilities”.
The aim is to “ensure they benefit from equal access to further education and are recognised for, and not disadvantaged by, their significant contribution in providing care and support to their loved ones”.
A motion that could shake up the content of school history books will also be considered, prompted by concerns that pupils are ignorant of the role played by South Asian soldiers in Scottish and British history, including in the two world wars.
The motion, from the SNP’s Glasgow Cathcart branch, states: “As the largest minority group, South Asians are part of the rich multicultural history of Scotland, and therefore should rightly see their part reflected within the curriculum taught in schools.”
