The McCrone deal will see staff in senior classes reduce teaching time

Highland Council is cutting specialist tuition for infants so that the McCrone pay settlement for teachers can be fully implemented.

The move has infuriated parents who say it contradicts the Scottish Executive's drive to address childhood obesity.

The McCrone deal will see staff in senior classes reduce teaching time.

From August, music, PE and art for primaries one, two and three will be taught by class teachers.

Visiting professionals will instead be used to relieve staff in senior classes who must reduce time spent in classrooms.

Why should the little ones suffer? They're the ones who learn the most and take in the most Parent

The McCrone agreement, reached in 2001, secured a 23% salary rise over three years for Scotland's 50,000 teachers.

The deal also capped teachers' working week at 35 hours and included the hiring of 3,000 more support staff.

One parent described the move as "disgusting" and another said she was concerned about children not getting enough exercise.

A third asked: "Why should the little ones suffer? They're the ones who learn the most and take in the most."

The school board for Balloch School, Balloch, near Inverness, has written to the council expressing its concerns about the changes.

Board members fear that upper classes will also be "adversely affected".

Poor planning

Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, said Highland Council had received adequate funding to provide services.

EIS education convener George McBride said the McCrone deal was not only about pay and conditions, but also made a commitment to improving education.

"Highland Council had five years to implement this and I think it's unfortunate it has left its planning to the very last days of this term," he said.

"We're quite clear it's the council's responsibility and that the Scottish Executive gave additional funds to councils in order to ensure the McCrone agreement could be fully implemented."

He added that if the council was experiencing financial difficulties it should have addressed them about a year ago.

Liberal Democrat Highland MSP Jamie Stone said the changes should not be tolerated.

I think it's a very sensible action from the Highland authority Judith Gillespie Scottish Parent Teacher Council

He said: "Art and music can make such a difference to people's lives - it's a gift.

"From learning these subjects you actually do better at the 'three Rs', so it's absolutely crucial and we've come so far since my generation. It would be tragic for our children if we went backwards.

"I think MSPs have to get into this issue as I suspect it may affect more than just the Highlands."

Judith Gillespie, of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said there was a need to fill the teaching gap in classes four to seven.

"That's actually the age group which will get the best benefit from having specialist teachers and they are the most able to take on board what specialist teachers will tell them," she said.

"I think it's a very sensible action from the Highland authority."

I think head teachers have had to make very hard decisions Bruce Robertson Education director

Bruce Robertson, Highland Council's director of education, culture and sport, said primary teachers had the skills to deliver the curriculum for the youngest pupils.

He also said 25 active school sports co-ordinators were also delivering a programme of activities for five, six and seven-year-olds.

Mr Robertson said the decision on visiting teachers lay with head teachers working within budgets set by the council.

He said: "In some primary schools in the Highlands the primaries one, two and three won't have direct access on a weekly or regular basis to visiting teachers."

Mr Robertson added: "I think head teachers have had to make very hard decisions. They have to work within the budget we devolve to them."

The row has erupted as schools across the Highlands wind down for the summer holidays.

School is out from Friday lunch-time at most schools.