COMMENT | Year One at six: Flexibility needing complete reform

COMMENT | The government recently announced that children can enter Year One as early as six years old, making it an option for parents.

In principle, this policy appears flexible and progressive, recognising that children develop at different rates and that chronological age is not the sole determinant of school readiness.

Allowing parents this choice seems to respect diversity, but the benefits of the policy will only be realised if the primary education system is truly prepared to accommodate younger students.

The main concern lies in...