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Poor parents urged to take up free nursery places Poor parents urged to take up free nursery places
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Parents of disadvantaged two-year-olds are being urged to access free nursery places through a government scheme.Parents of disadvantaged two-year-olds are being urged to access free nursery places through a government scheme.
Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw says a toddler from a poor family can catch up with their richer peers by attending a good pre-school.Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw says a toddler from a poor family can catch up with their richer peers by attending a good pre-school.
He says 50% of England's parents of two-year-olds entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week are not using it.He says 50% of England's parents of two-year-olds entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week are not using it.
Places are offered to children in care, with disabilities, special educational needs and from families on benefits.Places are offered to children in care, with disabilities, special educational needs and from families on benefits.
Research suggests that such children tend to do worse at school than their more advantaged classmates.Research suggests that such children tend to do worse at school than their more advantaged classmates.
'Achievement gap''Achievement gap'
Sir Michael said: "We know that children from poor families don't do as well as those from better-off backgrounds.Sir Michael said: "We know that children from poor families don't do as well as those from better-off backgrounds.
"There's a 19-month [achievement] gap by the time they start school in reception. That 19-month gap has to be made up in the early years."There's a 19-month [achievement] gap by the time they start school in reception. That 19-month gap has to be made up in the early years.
"Social mobility is about this vitally important time in a youngster's life.""Social mobility is about this vitally important time in a youngster's life."
Sir Michael said the standard of care in England's pre-schools, nurseries and childminder settings had improved markedly over the last decade.Sir Michael said the standard of care in England's pre-schools, nurseries and childminder settings had improved markedly over the last decade.
According to Ofsted's annual report, 85% of settings are now rated good or outstanding, compared with 78% the previous year.According to Ofsted's annual report, 85% of settings are now rated good or outstanding, compared with 78% the previous year.
He argued that pre-schools based on the same site as primary schools were particularly useful as they could track a child's progress all the way through their primary years.He argued that pre-schools based on the same site as primary schools were particularly useful as they could track a child's progress all the way through their primary years.
He also suggested health visitors could take a role in encouraging parents in target families to take up the offer of free childcare.He also suggested health visitors could take a role in encouraging parents in target families to take up the offer of free childcare.
The flagship scheme began in September 2013, when a free part-time childcare placement was targeted at 130,000 of the most disadvantaged children.The flagship scheme began in September 2013, when a free part-time childcare placement was targeted at 130,000 of the most disadvantaged children.
But the scheme opened with a shortage of places and some 38,000 children did not take up a placement.But the scheme opened with a shortage of places and some 38,000 children did not take up a placement.
In 2014, the scheme was expanded to cover some 260,000 children, and local authorities struggled to ensure providers could offer enough places in the right areas.In 2014, the scheme was expanded to cover some 260,000 children, and local authorities struggled to ensure providers could offer enough places in the right areas.
Now Sir Michael says about half of parents of children entitled to such placements are not accessing them.Now Sir Michael says about half of parents of children entitled to such placements are not accessing them.
The Department for Education said the number of children taking up the two-year-old offer had "increased dramatically" since its introduction and had almost doubled to 157,000.The Department for Education said the number of children taking up the two-year-old offer had "increased dramatically" since its introduction and had almost doubled to 157,000.
"It is for parents to decide at what age their child should attend a childcare setting and for how long," it said."It is for parents to decide at what age their child should attend a childcare setting and for how long," it said.
"We want to help parents make choices based on what is right for their family, rather than what they can or can't afford."We want to help parents make choices based on what is right for their family, rather than what they can or can't afford.
"The overwhelming evidence shows high-quality early years provision gives benefits that last throughout a child's life.""The overwhelming evidence shows high-quality early years provision gives benefits that last throughout a child's life."
Commenting on the report, councillor David Simmonds of the Local Government Association, said: "Many early years providers, including nurseries, childminders, and school-based settings, opt to work with their local councils, and mums and dads are seeing the results with more high quality provision becoming available.
"However, we could do so much more if some of the bureaucratic barriers preventing councils from using their expertise were lifted."
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