Daily roundup: reading skills, nursery complaints, and youth worker cuts

Poorer children as young as seven-years-old are more likely to fall behind in reading skills than their wealthier peers, according to research by Save the Children. The Too Young to Fail report shows that many children are being trapped in a cycle of poverty and are on course for poorer life chances. The charity is launching the Born to Read programme – where volunteers go into schools to read to children - as part of its commitment to helping disadvantaged children improve their opportunities and gain higher qualifications.

Major investigations into childcare providers are being launched on the back of “trivial” complaints to Ofsted, says the owner of The Old Station Nursery. The Oxford Mail reports that Sarah Steel has said the changes, implemented over a year ago, have opened up the process to abuse and she called for “swift changes” to be made. An Ofsted spokeswoman said it is the inspectorate’s responsibility to “shine a light where provision is not giving sufficient attention to children’s learning, safety and wellbeing”.