The Cabinet of Carmarthenshire Council met on Monday 25 March 2024. The Cabinet resolved to remove the Rising 4s policy for primary school admissions, meaning children will now start full-time education in the term following their fourth birthday, effective from 1 September 2025. The Cabinet also unanimously resolved to approve changes to the membership of several advisory panels, including those for the Labour Group and the Plaid Cymru Group.

Primary School Admissions Review (Rising 4s)

The Cabinet resolved to remove the Rising 4s policy, which currently allows children to start full-time primary education in the term of their fourth birthday. From 1 September 2025, children will instead be admitted to primary schools in the school term following their fourth birthday. This decision followed a consultation exercise held between 19 January and 1 March 2024, which received 1494 responses.

The Rising 4s policy is unique to Carmarthenshire among Welsh local authorities. The rationale for reviewing the policy stemmed from a 2018/19 Task & Finish Review by the Education & Children Scrutiny Committee, which highlighted that the policy differed significantly from neighbouring authorities and recommended a formal review.

The consultation offered three options:

• Option A: Maintain current arrangements (admit full-time learners in the term of their fourth birthday).
• Option B: Admit full-time learners in the term following their fourth birthday.
• Option C: Admit full-time learners in the September following their fourth birthday.

The consultation results showed overwhelming support for Option A, with 83.6% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that the current arrangements should remain. Option B received 28.1% support, while Option C garnered 20.1% support.

Despite the majority preference for maintaining the status quo, officers recommended Option B. Their rationale was that removing the Rising 4s policy would create opportunities to redistribute funding to enhance childcare provision, establish more 3-11 schools where needed, and improve equity across the county. The report also noted that implementing Option B would align with the Cabinet's vision to improve the availability of early years education and childcare settings across the county, particularly in rural areas; with a particular focus on providing and strengthening Welsh-medium childcare in all areas.

Councillor C.A. Davies, who runs a children's nursery, declared an interest in this item and left the meeting before the discussion and decision.

Labour Group Changes to Cabinet Advisory Panels

The Cabinet unanimously resolved to approve changes to the membership of several Labour Group Cabinet Advisory Panels. These changes included:

• Councillor Tina Higgins taking a vacant seat on the Rural Working Group Advisory Panel.
• Councillor Michael Thomas taking a vacant seat on the Development of the Local Development Plan Advisory Panel.
• Councillor Edward Skinner taking a vacant seat on the Corporate Parenting & Safeguarding Advisory Panel.
• Councillors Crish Davies and Edward Skinner taking vacant seats on the Climate Change & Nature Emergency Cross Party Advisory Panel.

Plaid Cymru Group Changes to Cabinet Advisory Panels

The Cabinet unanimously resolved to approve changes to the membership of Plaid Cymru Group Cabinet Advisory Panels. These changes involved:

• Councillor Russell Sparks replacing Councillor Hefin Jones on the Climate Change Advisory Panel.
• Councillor Meinir James replacing Councillor Liam Bowen on the Climate Change Advisory Panel.