Poverty leaves three year olds’ learning a year behind

Commenting on today’s publication of research by the Institute of Education as part of the Millennium Cohort Study, Kate Green, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said:

“It is vital that politicians acknowledge and respond to such clear-cut evidence that poverty and inequality leave children at a major disadvantage from an early age. Without addressing this kind of inequality, we will not achieve the historic commitment to end child poverty by 2020.

“Increased resources that are expected to go to schools in the next few years must be directed towards addressing the learning gap associated with poverty. Primary teachers in particular must be allowed the flexibility in their teaching methods, and have the necessary resources available, to address the individual learning needs of those children who are behind on their readiness to learn when they start formal schooling.”

 

Notes for editors

• CPAG is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty
  
• CPAG is in the planning stage of a major policy and research project on education.

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
tnichols@cpag.org.uk