Chief schools inspector: Poorest children should start school aged two

Sir Michael Wilshaw said that children should start school at the age of two as part of a radical overhaul of early years education.

17:18 03 April 2014

Ofsted, the education standard watchdog, has published it first-ever annual report on early years education. Its head, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is expected to say that children should start school at the age of two as part of a radical overhaul of early years education. 

 

According to the study, there is a continuing gap between outcomes for disadvantaged children when compared to those who have more affluent backgrounds. It shows that poorer children can be up to 19 months behind in important skills such as reading and numeracy by the time that they start compulsory schooling at the age of five. 

 

According to the Independent, Sir Michael will say:  “There are areas of the country, particularly London, where most children do well and the gap between disadvantaged is closing.

 

“There is nothing inevitable about the link between poverty and failure... We have to ask ourselves if there is a political consensus on the importance of a sure start in life for all, if so much money is being spent on it, why on earth has so little changed?”