The SNP want children to start school a year later to allow more play-based learning.

On Monday, the party conference approved a policy calling for the school start age to be raised to six-years-old, with a universal kindergarten programme for all three to six-year-olds.

The motion argued that starting school at age four or five is not the norm and the European countries with the “most successful” education records start at age six.

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It stated: "Active social play is children’s natural learning drive and helps develop physical fitness, social skills and cognitive capacities.”

It said that Nordic countries with a later start age have higher levels of health and wellbeing.

Tony Giugliano, SNP policy convenor, said: "It was a Victorian policy so children’s mothers could provide cheap labour in factories.

“Four and five-year-olds are not mentally ready to face the structure of the school system.”

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At last year’s Holyrood elections the Liberal Democrats and the Greens both wanted to raise the school start age even higher, to age seven, like in Finland.

Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Russia and Spain all have a start age of six.

Finland and Sweden start later still at age seven.

The SNP conference passed the resolution overwhelmingly.