CONCERNS have been raised over the “negative impact” of controversial tests for primary one pupils ahead of a parliamentary vote that could see them scrapped.

Teachers have already claimed the tests have left some four and five-year-old pupils in tears.

Now opposition MSPs are expected to back a Tory motion calling for them to be abolished for this age group.

A vote will be taken at Holyrood today, with Labour’s Mary Fee, who represents both Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire in her role as a list MSP for West Scotland, pledging her support for the move to scrap the standardised testing of four and five-year-olds.

Ms Fee said: “I welcome the opportunity to put the concerns of parents, teachers and education professionals to the Scottish Government during the debate.

“I will be voting to scrap the Scottish National Standardised Assessments for four and five-year-olds to allow them to learn in a friendly and supportive environment.

“In recent months it has been well documented the damaging impact these tests are having on such small children and, as a Parliament, we must put the needs of children first, as well as listen to parents and teachers, and scrap these unnecessary tests.”

Even if the Scottish Parliament votes against testing for P1 pupils, the result will not be binding on the Scottish Government.

And both Education Secretary John Swinney and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have continued to defend the use of the tests.

Mr Swinney has insisted scrapping them would be “deeply irresponsible.”

He stated: “Standardised assessments are a valuable tool for teachers to identify the next steps in a child’s learning and the additional information they provide is particularly useful in the early years if we are to continue to close the attainment gap.

“They are designed to be delivered as part of everyday learning and teaching, they are not high stakes and there is no pass or fail. These types of assessments are also not new – 29 out of 32 local authorities previously carried out some form of standardised assessment.

“Throughout the first year of standardised assessments we have listened carefully to experiences and feedback and introduced a range of changes and improvements as a result.

“The Scottish Government will continue to listen to any constructive comments or suggestions about the assessments or how they are delivered.”