Ofsted's Bold Beginnings report into the reception class experience of four- and five-year-olds has highlighted the attainment gap faced by disadvantaged children at the start of school.
The report found that around half of reception-age children from poorer backgrounds were failing to achieve expected levels of social, emotional, physical and communication development, as well as expected standards in maths and English.
The inspectorate said too many teachers lacked ambition for pupils, but head teachers interviewed for the report blamed the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) profile for being too burdensome.
Ofsted's criticism follows concerns raised in October about the standard of support offered by early years settings in preparing children for school.
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