The Government is being urged to tackle the high number of children starting school not ‘school ready’, in a new report out today
The latest t joint report from Child of the North/Centre for Young Lives, highlights the huge number of young children in England not starting Reception class ‘school ready’
In 2022/23, a third of children were not considered school ready, with 45 per cent of children receiving Free School Meals not being ready for school
The report highlights the alarming rise in early years developmental delays since Covid-19. Schools report children starting in Reception in nappies, and recent surveys of schools and nurseries have shown high levels of concern around speech and language
The new report sets out proposals to address the crisis in preschool provision across the country, particularly in the most disadvantaged areas, as well as improved training for professionals to boost home visits to first time low-income mothers, more parenting programmes, and better sharing of information between professionals working with families and young children
Co-author of the report, Judy Clegg, Professor of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Sheffield, said: “Many children are starting school without the speech, language, and communication skills they need to begin learning.
“Urgent action is required to provide support, so every child can listen, talk, and engage with others—skills essential for thriving in the classroom, learning to read, making friends, and succeeding in school. Increased funding for health and early years education to collaborate effectively is crucial and expanding speech and language therapy services is vital to ensuring no child is left behind.”
