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| Poor children 'lag a year behind' | Poor children 'lag a year behind' |
| (4 days later) | |
| Children from the poorest homes are almost a year behind middle class pupils by the time they start school, research suggests. | Children from the poorest homes are almost a year behind middle class pupils by the time they start school, research suggests. |
| But good parenting, such as reading to children and having fixed bed times, can significantly reduce this gap, the study for the Sutton Trust says. | But good parenting, such as reading to children and having fixed bed times, can significantly reduce this gap, the study for the Sutton Trust says. |
| The educational charity urged the government to fund parenting classes, especially in deprived areas. | The educational charity urged the government to fund parenting classes, especially in deprived areas. |
| The government said the gap was closing fast but that there was more to do. | The government said the gap was closing fast but that there was more to do. |
| The Sutton Trust study looked at the results of a series of vocabulary tests carried out by 12,500 British children at the age of five. | The Sutton Trust study looked at the results of a series of vocabulary tests carried out by 12,500 British children at the age of five. |
| It found those from the poorest homes were nearly a year behind in their results. | It found those from the poorest homes were nearly a year behind in their results. |
| It also looked at the factors common to poorer children that might influence their development. | It also looked at the factors common to poorer children that might influence their development. |
| It found that just under half of those from the poorest fifth of families were born to younger mothers under 25. | It found that just under half of those from the poorest fifth of families were born to younger mothers under 25. |
| We now have sound evidence about policies and programmes that raise achievement Jane WaldfogelReport author | We now have sound evidence about policies and programmes that raise achievement Jane WaldfogelReport author |
| And just under two-thirds did not live with both biological parents, it said. | And just under two-thirds did not live with both biological parents, it said. |
| It also isolated some factors that boosted children's development on both the poorest and the richest homes. | It also isolated some factors that boosted children's development on both the poorest and the richest homes. |
| These included "sensitive parental behaviour", such as ensuring regular bedtimes and reading daily to the child. | These included "sensitive parental behaviour", such as ensuring regular bedtimes and reading daily to the child. |
| Regular bed times between the ages of three and five led to development gains of two-and-a-half months, researchers said. | Regular bed times between the ages of three and five led to development gains of two-and-a-half months, researchers said. |
| Daily reading at the age of three boosted vocabulary development by nearly two months. | Daily reading at the age of three boosted vocabulary development by nearly two months. |
| And children whose parents arranged monthly library visits were two-and-a-half months ahead of an equivalent child at the age of five who had not made similar trips. | And children whose parents arranged monthly library visits were two-and-a-half months ahead of an equivalent child at the age of five who had not made similar trips. |
| According to the study, better parenting could reduce the achievement gap between middle-income and poor families by up to nine months. | According to the study, better parenting could reduce the achievement gap between middle-income and poor families by up to nine months. |
| However, just under half of children from the poorest homes were read to every day at the age of three, compared to 78% of children from the richest fifth of home. | However, just under half of children from the poorest homes were read to every day at the age of three, compared to 78% of children from the richest fifth of home. |
| More help | More help |
| The authors noted that the UK had invested 4.3% of GDP on early years education in 2006. | The authors noted that the UK had invested 4.3% of GDP on early years education in 2006. |
| But they called for a more effective early years strategy that would prevent greater numbers of children from disadvantaged backgrounds "falling behind their more fortunate peers before school has even begun". | But they called for a more effective early years strategy that would prevent greater numbers of children from disadvantaged backgrounds "falling behind their more fortunate peers before school has even begun". |
| Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said the findings were both shocking and encouraging - revealing the stark educational disadvantage experienced by children from poorer homes before they reached school. | Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said the findings were both shocking and encouraging - revealing the stark educational disadvantage experienced by children from poorer homes before they reached school. |
| But it also showed the potential for good parenting to overcome some of the negative impacts that poverty could have on children's early development, he said. | But it also showed the potential for good parenting to overcome some of the negative impacts that poverty could have on children's early development, he said. |
| Study author Professor Jane Waldfogel, visiting professor at London School of Economics, said: "We now have sound evidence about policies and programmes that raise achievement for low-income children and help reduce gaps in early childhood. | Study author Professor Jane Waldfogel, visiting professor at London School of Economics, said: "We now have sound evidence about policies and programmes that raise achievement for low-income children and help reduce gaps in early childhood. |
| "We also know that the best of these investments will yield returns well in excess of their costs." | "We also know that the best of these investments will yield returns well in excess of their costs." |
| 'Focus on disadvantaged' | 'Focus on disadvantaged' |
| The report also called for more support for families from health professionals and early learning experts and special outreach projects to improve contact with vulnerable families. | The report also called for more support for families from health professionals and early learning experts and special outreach projects to improve contact with vulnerable families. |
| Expansion of free nursery education should be focused on the 15% most disadvantaged families, it added. | Expansion of free nursery education should be focused on the 15% most disadvantaged families, it added. |
| Children's Minister Delyth Morgan said the government's rules on what is covered in childcare settings were ensuring that toddlers were learning through play and getting proper stimulation. | Children's Minister Delyth Morgan said the government's rules on what is covered in childcare settings were ensuring that toddlers were learning through play and getting proper stimulation. |
| "The childcare entitlement means even low-income families can benefit from high quality childcare that prepares toddlers for school. | "The childcare entitlement means even low-income families can benefit from high quality childcare that prepares toddlers for school. |
| "But let's be clear, whilst there is much more to do, the gap between rich and poor in early years is closing, with the lowest-achieving children not only keeping pace but improving faster than the rest. | "But let's be clear, whilst there is much more to do, the gap between rich and poor in early years is closing, with the lowest-achieving children not only keeping pace but improving faster than the rest. |
| "We will continue to focus extra resources on the most disadvantaged children," she added. | "We will continue to focus extra resources on the most disadvantaged children," she added. |
| Chris Keates, general secretary of the Nasuwt teaching union, said: "An essential component of all early years' provision, public or private, is the employment of qualified teachers as part of the team around the child." | Chris Keates, general secretary of the Nasuwt teaching union, said: "An essential component of all early years' provision, public or private, is the employment of qualified teachers as part of the team around the child." |