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Beatrice Wishart pays tribute to the "impressive campaign by Give Them Time" and says the Lib Dems will back the Labour motion at decision time.

Ms Wishart says her party wants play-based learning to be embedded in the early years.

She calls for an end to the "unacceptable postcode lottery" in nursery provision.

Green MSP Ross Greer says play-based activities are crucial for early development, as demonstrated in several studies.

He highlights in most EU countries the starting age for school is around six which leaves more time for this play-based learning.

For many children still under five, the right to defer is not automatic despite school not necessarily being the best place to learn he adds.

The Green MSP says nursery and pre-school remains expensive and out-of-reach for many parents, and even when it is expanded to 1140 hours that will still only be 30 hours a week in term time.

He supports the Give Them Time campaign.

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In April we reported opposition MSPs had united to demand the Scottish government takes urgent action to address "flaws" in its plan to double free childcare provision.

Eligible children will be entitled to 1,140 hours of free pre-school education in Scotland from August 2020.

The Scottish Conservatives have claimed the plans are behind schedule - an accusation the government denies.

MSPs voted by 58 to 57 in favour of a motion calling for concerns about the implementation to be addressed.

Read more here.

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Oliver Mundell begins by saying his party backs the Labour motion.

The Tory MSP tells the chamber action must be taken now to address this unacceptable inconsistency in nursery provision.

"The government has come very, very slow to this," he adds.

The government amendment will not get the backing of his party he says.

Ms Todd confirms the government will bring forward legislation to ensure all children whose school start is deferred receive funding for early learning and childcare for that year.

She insists this must be done with the agreement of local government, particularly on an implementation timetable.

The minister says discussions will start with local government soon.

The Scottish government gives local authorities the responsibility to decide whether children who have an Autumn term birthday - are entitled to additional nursery funding.

But campaigners say decisions vary across the country.

Patricia Anderson runs the Give Them Time, external campaign which wants extra funding for deferred places to be automatic.

She said: "It can seem extremely unfair that some people just need to tick a box and they're granted that extra funding whereas others have to have nursery support, educational psychology, educational professionals at the councils."

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Children and Young People Minister Maree Todd thanks the Give Them Time campaign for their tireless work.

Ms Todd tells the chamber that the flexibility provided to families in allowing them to defer a four year old's entry into P1 by one year is welcome.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson intervenes to say it is only flexible for those parents that can afford it as it currently stands.

Ms Todd says she will address this shortly.

Mr Gray says the government has committed to improving guidance and improving communications so parents are aware of their rights.

However, the task is not to better explain this anomaly but to get rid of it, the Labour MSP insists.

He says is parents who have the right to defer their child's entry to school, we must respect that and deliver it.

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Iain Gray gets the debate underway, saying his motion will correct a legal anomaly that causes problems for families across Scotland.

The Scottish Labour education spokesperson praises the Give Them Time campaign which wants extra funding to allow nursery places to be automatic if entry to P1 is deferred.

The current situation leads to a clear funding inequity, with parents who can't pay for nursery provision having to put their child into P1 against the family's wishes, he explains.

Mr Gray insists children whose entry to P1 is deferred should continue to get the same level of funding as three to four year olds.

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Parents who choose to delay the date their child starts school are calling for equal access to funding for an extra year at nursery.

Children in Scotland usually go to school in the year they turn five.

Parents of those born in January and February can apply for deferral, which is automatically granted.

Those with August to December birthdays can also apply, but this is at the discretion of the local authority.

Read more here.

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Scottish Labour will now lead a debate calling for an end to what it calls the post-code lottery of accessing nursery funding for parents who have delayed their child starting primary school.