Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
New analysis from Save the Children has revealed that the early learning gap between children in poverty and their peers has widened in 76 out of 152 local authorities.
The analysis of the disparity between preschool children in poverty and their peers reveals that progress in closing the early learning gap has stalled in 22 local authorities and is shrinking in 52, showing that the gap is widening for the first time in four years. This means that poorer children starting primary school across the country are being left further behind their classmates in skills such as speaking in full sentences, following simple instructions and expressing themselves.
The study found that the largest early learning gap is in West Berkshire, where disadvantaged five-year olds are 33 percentage points more likely than their classmates to have fallen behind. In comparison, Hackney is the only local authority in the country where there is no early learning gap at all.
Steven McIntosh, director of UK Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, said: “Our analysis shows that a lack of support for childcare quality in England is still letting poverty dictate children’s chances. Not only that, but the gulf between children in poverty and their peers is widening in many places.
“Children who start school without the tools to learn find it incredibly difficult to catch up, which risks further locking children into poverty in the future. The government has made welcome commitments to close the early learning gap. But they are ignoring an early years staffing crisis that will continue to undermine children’s potential – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. There is a national shortage of graduate early years teachers who are specifically trained to help children who are falling behind.”
The charity has also revealed a shortage of around 2,000 early years teachers in the most disadvantaged areas, where they are most needed.
Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
Qwello is a vertically integrated developer, manufacturer, operator and maintainer of public charging infrastructure using a highly innovative, practical and driver-friendly solution that provides local authorities and private organisations with fully privately funded innovative, user-friendly public on-street EV charging solutions.
Their groundbreaking approach prioritises innovation, practicality, and driver-friendliness, providing fully privately funded, user-friendly public on-street EV charging solutions to both local authorities and private organisations.
Food, Drink & Hospitality Week comes to ExCeL London on 25-27 March for three busy days of networking, product sourcing and learning about the very latest industry trends.
Join the digital, data and technology community at DigiGov Expo – where public sector experts and innovators gain knowledge to transform government services.
The Workplace Event 2024
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, shifting workplace cultures, and an increased focus on employee well-being, The Workplace Event (TWE) 2024 emerges as a beacon of insight, innovation, and inspiration. Taking place from April 30 - May 2 2024 at the NEC Birmingham, TWE brings together over 5,000 workplace and facilities management professionals.
ICS.AI, a leader in UK public sector AI transformation, announces expanded partnership with Derby
Scotland is a captivating destination that offers ideal settings for corporate meetings and events, incentive trips, and association conferences. With its breathtaking landscapes, rich history, vibrant culture, and world-class facilities, Scotland has everything you need to ensure your event is memorable and successful.
Robyn Quick investigates how funding from the cancelled part of HS2 is being reallocated to road maintenance across the country.