Commentary on Sections Part 7 – Power to Provide School Education for Pre-School Children Section 54 - Duty to consult and plan in relation to power to provide school education for pre-school children
128.Section 54 inserts subsections (2B), (2C) and 2(D) into section 1 of the the 1980 Act. Section 1(1C) of the 1980 Act gives power to education authorities to provide school education for pre-school children (i.e. early learning and childcare) in addition to the mandatory provision required in terms of section 1(1A) of the 1980 Act as amended by Part 6 of this Act.
129.Subsection (2B) requires education authorities to consult parents of pre-school children in their area at least once every two years about whether and if so how they should provide such education in exercise of their power under section 1(1C) of the 1980 Act and, having had regard to those views, prepare and publish plans in relation to that. Subsection (2C) enables the Scottish Ministers by order to vary the regularity within which such consultation and planning should happen and such an order is subject to negative procedure in terms of subsection (2D).