ABSTRACT
Since the study was carried out, the admission of four year olds to school has been caught between pressure for more places and cuts in finances. Demand for more daytime provision for under-fives has continued as firms have tried to attract mothers back to work. At the same time, early admission policies in some LEAs have been threatened by cutbacks due to rate-capping and the introduction of the community charge. These have been blamed for proposals in at least two authorities with little or no state nursery provision to raise the school starting age from four to five (Guardian, 13.11.90, p. 27; TES, 16.11.90, p. 8). Also, as LMS gets underway, individual schools may reconsider whether they should continue to admit children below the statutory age.
