Literacy news
Disadvantaged children ‘lag a year behind’ middle class children at school research suggests
16 Feb 2010
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are a year behind middle class pupils by the time they start school, a study reveals.
The Sutton Trust study reviewed the results of a series of vocabulary tests, which were captured as part of the Millennium Cohort Survey. The tests were completed by 12,500 British children at the age of five. It found those from the poorest homes were nearly a year behind in their results.
The study also looked at the factors common to poorer children that might influence their development. It found that just under half of those from the poorest fifth of families were born to mothers under 25 and just under two thirds did not live with both biological parents.
The study isolated factors that boosted children's development on both the poorest and the richest homes. These included "sensitive parental behaviour", such as ensuring regular bedtimes and reading daily to the child. Daily reading at the age of three boosted vocabulary development by nearly two months. Children aged five whose parents arranged monthly library visits were two and a half months ahead of their peers who had not made similar trips.
However, good parenting, such as reading to children and having fixed bed times, can significantly reduce this gap, the Sutton Trust believes. According to the study, better parenting could reduce the achievement gap between middle income and poor families by up to nine months.
Children's Minister Delyth Morgan said the government's rules on what is covered in childcare settings were ensuring that toddlers were learning through play and getting proper stimulation.
"But let's be clear, whilst there is much more to do, the gap between rich and poor in early years is closing, with the lowest achieving children not only keeping pace but improving faster than the rest.
"We will continue to focus extra resources on the most disadvantaged children," she added.
To read the full story, please visit:
BBC Online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8513340.stm
The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/feb/15/poor-children-behind-sutton-trust
The National Literacy Trust published research in 2006, based on a survey of over 8,500 children and young people in 2005, which explored the link between reading enjoyment, attitudes, behaviour and socioeconomic background in children and young people aged between 5 and16.
To read the National Literacy Trust report, please visit: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/research/readsurvey.html#Social
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