This represents between 2600 and 2700 children, depending on the cohort's exact size. The substantial majority of local authorities provide pre-school funding for 'deferred' children, although the level of such provision varies considerably. Some local authorities automatically provide pre-school to any child deferring entry to primary school, whereas other authorities ask education professionals to assess the child's readiness for primary before offering a place in the deferred year. Some local authorities fund very low levels of deferred entry pre-school places. The Standards in Scotland's Schools etc.
Eligible children are to be specified through secondary legislation.
Ministers have not, as yet, taken any decision as to which groups of children are to be included within the scope of the duty. During the parliamentary scrutiny of the 2000 Act, a number of MSPs made comments on the operation of the pre-school grant system. The child who is four and a half will be entering primary school less mature and with less support than the older children. People who have been the youngest pupils in their class often find it difficult to catch up, and that may continue for years. There was a view that this group of children should be entitled to additional funded support.