Have your say on proposed age range changes at five Carmarthenshire primary schools

Carmarthenshire County Council is consulting on proposals to expand access to early years education by changing the age range from 4 -11 to 3 -11 years at five primary schools across the county.

 If approved, the changes would allow children from three years of age to access part-time, funded nursery education in areas where current provision is limited in Ysgol Y Ddwylan, Ysgol Cwrt Henri, Ysgol Gymraeg Y Tymbl, Ysgol Llanybydder and Laugharne V.C.P. School.

To meet demand for part-time nursery education and wraparound childcare in areas where there is limited non-maintained provision, the Council is proposing to redesignate these schools as 3-11 schools. This would allow them to offer a minimum of 10 hours per week of non-statutory, part-time early years education to help address any gaps in provision and ensure fairer access to early years education across the county. 

The consultation will run from 4 September to 16 October 2025 and forms part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to modernising education provision across Carmarthenshire. All responses must be received by 16 October 2025.

Parents, carers, staff, Governors, members of the wider school community and other stakeholders are invited to share their views as part of the consultation process online, via e-mail or by post Mr Owain Lloyd, Director of Education and Children’s Services, County Hall, Castle Hill, Carmarthen, SA31 1JP.

These proposals follow a decision by the Council’s Cabinet in March 2024 to remove the “Rising 4s” policy from 1 September 2025, with children instead starting full-time education at the beginning of the term following their fourth birthday.

Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, Cllr Glynog Davies said:

By welcoming three-year-olds at these schools, we are helping to strengthen local communities and support families during an important stage in their children’s development. I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and share their views."

Following the consultation period, a report will be presented to Cabinet for a decision.