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| Early years policy 'lacks impact' | Early years policy 'lacks impact' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Steps to improve early years education made by the government are making no impact, according to research. | Steps to improve early years education made by the government are making no impact, according to research. |
| A six-year Durham University study of 35,000 children in England suggests development is no different than before an overhaul of early years' education. | A six-year Durham University study of 35,000 children in England suggests development is no different than before an overhaul of early years' education. |
| Labour's initiatives have included the early childhood curriculum, Sure Start, free nursery education, the Children's Act 2002 and Every Child Matters. | Labour's initiatives have included the early childhood curriculum, Sure Start, free nursery education, the Children's Act 2002 and Every Child Matters. |
| Ministers say indications are that investment is leading to improvements. | Ministers say indications are that investment is leading to improvements. |
| 'Rapid change' | 'Rapid change' |
| Researchers at the university's Curriculum, Evaluation and Management (CEM) Centre used the Performance Indicators in Primary Schools (Pips) to assess the children. | |
| They measured the cognitive development of almost 35,000 children who entered primary schools between 2001 and 2006. | They measured the cognitive development of almost 35,000 children who entered primary schools between 2001 and 2006. |
| Researcher Dr Christine Merrell said: "Our aim with this study is to provide a single perspective on the changing profiles of children starting school in England during a time of rapid change. | Researcher Dr Christine Merrell said: "Our aim with this study is to provide a single perspective on the changing profiles of children starting school in England during a time of rapid change. |
| "While the Pips assessments used in the study do not measure how many children were involved in national initiatives, one would have expected that the major government programmes would have resulted in some measurable changes in our sample of almost 35,000 children." | "While the Pips assessments used in the study do not measure how many children were involved in national initiatives, one would have expected that the major government programmes would have resulted in some measurable changes in our sample of almost 35,000 children." |
| She admitted that it may be too soon to assess the impact of measures such as the Children's Act and Every Child Matters. | She admitted that it may be too soon to assess the impact of measures such as the Children's Act and Every Child Matters. |
| 'Improving outcomes' | 'Improving outcomes' |
| Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said: "The government has invested over £21bn on early years and childcare services since 1997 as part of an unprecedented expansion of provision for young children and families. | Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said: "The government has invested over £21bn on early years and childcare services since 1997 as part of an unprecedented expansion of provision for young children and families. |
| "Early indications are that this investment is improving outcomes for children. | "Early indications are that this investment is improving outcomes for children. |
| "However, as the author of this report acknowledges, it is still too early to measure this with any great authority." | "However, as the author of this report acknowledges, it is still too early to measure this with any great authority." |
| The government has introduced free nursery education for all three-year-olds, is aiming for a Sure Start children's centre for every community, and brought in Every Child Matters to address the well-being of children. | The government has introduced free nursery education for all three-year-olds, is aiming for a Sure Start children's centre for every community, and brought in Every Child Matters to address the well-being of children. |
| The research is being presented at the European Association for Learning and Instruction (Earli) conference in Budapest. | The research is being presented at the European Association for Learning and Instruction (Earli) conference in Budapest. |