Just one in 25 children starting primary school in Dundee are likely to enter classes with 18 pupils or fewer next month.
Despite an SNP pledge in 2007 to limit class sizes in primaries one to three to fewer than 18 pupils, that target is being missed across the country due to budget pressures, rising numbers of children attending school and falling teacher numbers.
In Dundee the SNP council has been forced to abandon the target completely and is instead focusing on raising attainment levels by targeting vulnerable and disadvantaged children at a pre-school age.
Education convener Stewart Hunter said budget cuts had forced the council to “re-think” its attitude to early years education.
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