US EditionCrisis in early years education as attainment gap widens, report warns
WALES, JUL 15 – The Education Policy Institute reports the early years attainment gap in Wales has widened since 2019, with children with special educational needs falling nearly 20 months behind peers.
- This past week, the EPI highlighted that the 2024 attainment gap compared to 2019 has widened, revealing deepening inequalities in early years education.
- Children with SEND face the widest gap, reaching 19.9 months in reception year, according to the Education Policy Institute.
- With wages up 37%, costs have surged, and Lisa Owen, nursery owner, reports the £6.40-an-hour rate fails to cover childcare costs.
- On July 14, the petitions committee noted the Welsh Government will invest over £150m in childcare for 2025/26, keeping the petition open, according to Dawn Bowden.
- Under the Best Start in Life strategy, a Department for Education spokesperson said up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs will be operational by 2028.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Crisis in early years education as attainment gap widens, report warns
"More children are entering our nursery settings and our reception classes with speech, language delays, difficulties in emotional regulation and emerging needs," an assistant headteacher tells Sky News.
Call for Pay Parity as Wexford Faces 19.9% Childcare Staff Turnover
Early Childhood Ireland is calling on the government to take urgent action to tackle the 19.9% staff turnover rate in Wexford’s childcare sector by delivering pay parity for Early Years and School Age Care graduates. In its Budget 2026 submission, the national membership and advocacy organisation is urging the government to commit to a clear […] The post Call for Pay Parity as Wexford Faces 19.9% Childcare Staff Turnover appeared first on South …
Alliance comments on EPI annual report 2025
Alliance comments on EPI annual report 2025Please find below a comment from the Early Years Alliance on the Education Policy Institute's (EPI's) Annual Report 2025, which found evidence of growing attainment gaps in early years education. The report is available here. Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: "Over recent years, ministers from across the political spectrum have spoken at great length about the importance of closing the…
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