Alan Johnson, the education secretary, used his speech to the RelateInstitute last week to emphasise the importance of good parenting inchildren's attainment. "Parenting outstrips every other factor -including social class, ethnicity or disability - in its impact onattainment," he said.
"Bad parenting has serious consequences."
To improve parenting in the UK, Johnson said there needed to be moresupport for parents in the early years via Sure Start. "Bright childrenfrom poorer backgrounds begin to fall behind less able children frommore affluent backgrounds from the age of around 22 months," hesaid.
As a result, Johnson believes the Government should ensure that parentsand schools "work closely together in a mutually re-enforcingpartnership to ensure each child reaches their potential at school".
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