Charity challenges study showing early years initiatives fail to deliver

Research by the University of Durham found no change in pre-school children’s educational development between 2001 and 2006, despite initiatives such as Sure Start and free nursery places for three and four year olds.
But Maxine Hill, policy and research manager at the Daycare Trust, said the study may be reflecting problems in services reaching poorer children rather than flaws in the work the initiatives do.
“The research may point to continuing problems in ensuring that poorer children get the early years care and education they’re entitled to, rather than a failure of early years education to deliver educational benefits,” she said. “It is absolutely clear that there are positive cognitive outcomes for children who attend early years education, which increase depending on the length of time in spent in these settings.”
Dr Christine Merrell, performance indicators in primary schools project manager at the university, said the study highlighted the need for evidence-based services. “Initiatives should be based on high-quality evidence and be introduced in ways that allow for continuous scientific monitoring and adjustment in light of evidence. This approach takes time, financial investment and expertise. It is not a method that offers quick fixes. However, we believe it should play a pivotal role in making effective decisions.”
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