This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/27/labour-can-offer-disadvantaged-children-a-surer-start-in-life
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Labour can offer disadvantaged children a surer start in life | Labour can offer disadvantaged children a surer start in life |
| (4 days later) | |
| While Labour’s commitment of vast new sums towards preschool interventions is welcome, much more thought needs to be given to how they can be used most effectively to equalise children’s life chances (Free nurseries are a good place to start patching up our fragmented system, 26 September). | While Labour’s commitment of vast new sums towards preschool interventions is welcome, much more thought needs to be given to how they can be used most effectively to equalise children’s life chances (Free nurseries are a good place to start patching up our fragmented system, 26 September). |
| Much of the inequality that now exists between the life chances of children from relatively wealthy families and others from poorer backgrounds is accounted for by what happens at home – mainly in respect of the style of parenting and the home learning environment. | Much of the inequality that now exists between the life chances of children from relatively wealthy families and others from poorer backgrounds is accounted for by what happens at home – mainly in respect of the style of parenting and the home learning environment. |
| Intensive home visiting programmes that seek to improve maternal mental health, strengthen the bonds between parent and child, and create a home environment that enables babies and infants to develop, are being piloted, but only on a relatively small scale. Such interventions hold the key to equalising children’s life chances during those crucial first years of life which all but determine whether or not they will grow up to become poor adults. | Intensive home visiting programmes that seek to improve maternal mental health, strengthen the bonds between parent and child, and create a home environment that enables babies and infants to develop, are being piloted, but only on a relatively small scale. Such interventions hold the key to equalising children’s life chances during those crucial first years of life which all but determine whether or not they will grow up to become poor adults. |
| Mega sums of money have been invested by successive governments in early education and childcare. But the country has yet to demand the investment of equivalent sums in services that focus on parenting and the home. | Mega sums of money have been invested by successive governments in early education and childcare. But the country has yet to demand the investment of equivalent sums in services that focus on parenting and the home. |
| That is despite the strong evidence found by Professor Michael Marmot, for example, that “early intervention through intensive home visiting programmes during and after pregnancy can be effective in improving the health, wellbeing and self-sufficiency of low-income, young first-time parents and their children”. | That is despite the strong evidence found by Professor Michael Marmot, for example, that “early intervention through intensive home visiting programmes during and after pregnancy can be effective in improving the health, wellbeing and self-sufficiency of low-income, young first-time parents and their children”. |
| Herein lies the route for Labour to revolutionise the welfare state in pursuit of justice for children born into disadvantaged households.Frank Field MPIndependent, Birkenhead | Herein lies the route for Labour to revolutionise the welfare state in pursuit of justice for children born into disadvantaged households.Frank Field MPIndependent, Birkenhead |
| • Your leader is quite right, free nurseries are a good place to start patching up our fragmented system; though I suggest the system needs more than a mere patch. In her speech to the Labour conference on Monday, Angela Rayner did well to refocus the early years debate away from childcare and on to education. Of course, there is intersectionality. Age-appropriate early years education, utilising proven play-centred pedagogy, also provides care. | • Your leader is quite right, free nurseries are a good place to start patching up our fragmented system; though I suggest the system needs more than a mere patch. In her speech to the Labour conference on Monday, Angela Rayner did well to refocus the early years debate away from childcare and on to education. Of course, there is intersectionality. Age-appropriate early years education, utilising proven play-centred pedagogy, also provides care. |
| Childcare, however, is a service for working parents; education is the right of all children in our society. Labour clearly recognises this and is ready to work on improving both.Tony ReaIvybridge, Devon | Childcare, however, is a service for working parents; education is the right of all children in our society. Labour clearly recognises this and is ready to work on improving both.Tony ReaIvybridge, Devon |
| • I am pleased that Labour is pledging to expand free childcare. May I suggest a name for this programme: “Sure Start”?Stephen GreenhalghLondon | • I am pleased that Labour is pledging to expand free childcare. May I suggest a name for this programme: “Sure Start”?Stephen GreenhalghLondon |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| • Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition | • Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition |
| Children | Children |
| Poverty | Poverty |
| Childcare | Childcare |
| Labour | Labour |
| Parents and parenting | Parents and parenting |
| Family | Family |
| letters | letters |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |