The outcomes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds still lag behind the results of their peers during their early years, a government official has said.
Ann Langston, the Department for Children, Schools and Families' regional adviser for the early years foundation stage, said overall outcomes have improved slightly since last year. But the gap between rich and poor children is not narrowing.
"The gap isn't closing quickly enough," she told Nursery World's early years foundation stage conference.
She also told the conference in Birmingham that differences are still showing up between boys and girls in early years.
"We need to be questioning why what we're providing doesn't meet the needs of boys," she said.
Langston said the main aim of the early years foundation stage, which will come into force in September, is to focus on equality for children.
"Every child is a unique individual," she said. "As a parent and somebody who has educated young children to me that's very important."
"The gap isn't closing quickly enough," she told Nursery World's early years foundation stage conference.
She also told the conference in Birmingham that differences are still showing up between boys and girls in early years.
"We need to be questioning why what we're providing doesn't meet the needs of boys," she said.
Langston said the main aim of the early years foundation stage, which will come into force in September, is to focus on equality for children.
"Every child is a unique individual," she said. "As a parent and somebody who has educated young children to me that's very important."
