
The government’s vow that a record proportion of children in reception will meet child development benchmarks by 2028 has been broadly welcomed by the early years sector.
However, experts warn that the ambitious milestone will be missed unless investment is increased, and workforce recruitment and retention issues are addressed.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised last month that 75% of five-year-olds in England will be “school ready” by the next election. To achieve this goal, he pledged to improve family services, expand school-based nurseries and boost workforce training.
Challenges
The term school-ready refers to children who have the skills to meet the challenges of the school environment and thrive. It’s assessed using the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP), which covers areas such as cognitive, communication and physical skills.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here