Why are we consulting
The proposal to change the age range of Ysgol Y Ddwylan, Ysgol Cwrt Henri, Ysgol Gymraeg y Tymbl, Ysgol Llanybydder and Laugharne VC School from 4-11 to 3-11 has been prepared in response to the County Council’s Cabinet decision to remove Carmarthenshire’s Rising 4s Policy, whereby children were historically eligible to enter full-time primary education at the start of the school term in which they turned four years of age.
Following a period of public consultation held between 19 January 2024 and 1 March 2024, the County Council’s Cabinet resolved on 25 March 2024 to remove the Rising 4s Policy, which means that, as of 1 September 2025, children will be eligible for full-time school at the start of the term following their fourth birthday. From this date, there will be no children in full-time provision who are three years of age.
Children who have turned three are eligible for a minimum of 10 hours per week of non-statutory approved education provision delivered on a part-time sessional basis, either in one of the county’s 42 primary schools which are designated as age 3-11 schools and where this provision is maintained by the County Council, or a minimum of 10 hours education in approved non-maintained settings such as day nurseries or Cylchoedd Meithrin. Working parents of eligible 3- to 4-year-olds are able to access up to 30 hours funded combined childcare and education via the Welsh Government’s Childcare Offer.
One impact of the removal of the Rising 4s Policy is that children will remain in nursery provision and childcare settings for a term longer than previously. In the short term, this might create an additional demand for provision of non-statutory education for a greater number of three-year-old children, and possibly an increased demand for wrap-around care. Ideally, this demand will be met by the non-maintained sector where providers will be able to expand provision to cater for additional numbers of children for either or both of the minimum of 10 hours education and for wrap around care.
In communities where this does not happen and where gaps in provision of the education element exist, the Council proposes changes to some of its 4-11 schools to 3-11 schools. This would enable these schools to deliver the minimum of 10 hours non-statutory Early Years education element and provide greater equity of provision across Carmarthenshire. A 3-11 school receives delegated funding for the provision of 3-year-old education on a part-time basis by the Local Authority.
As such, this proposal aims to address the gap in provision of a minimum of 10 hours non-statutory 3-year-old education by proposing to change the age range at the schools.
Supporting Documents
How to get involved
Consultees are invited to submit any observations in relation to the proposal by writing a letter to the address below or by completing an online survey.
Alternatively, consultees may wish to submit observations via e-mail to: MEPConsultations@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Please take part by completing this online survey or by getting in touch using alternative methods described above and submitting your response by the 16/10/2025.
Next Steps
A Consultation Report will be taken to the Cabinet for a decision on whether or not to proceed with the proposal. The Consultation Report will summarise the observations submitted by consultees and Carmarthenshire County Council’s response to these observations.
