Wilshaw believes existing early years provision does not sufficiently meet the needs of disadvantaged children, and that schools are best placed to address this and should be allowed to educate infants from the age of two to narrow the attainment gap.
He said: "Too many of our poorest children are getting an unsure start because the early years system is letting them down.
"What children facing serious disadvantage need is high-quality, early education from the age of two delivered by skilled practitioners, led by a teacher, in a setting that parents can recognise and access.
"These already exist. They are called schools."
Wilshaw's remarks follow the publication today of Ofsted's first early years annual report, which finds that children from poorer backgrounds are being failed by early years provision.
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