Despite 78 per cent of nursery and childcare providers being judged by Ofsted to be "good" or "outstanding", the sector is not making the kind of strides the chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw wants to see. He believes early years providers, while delivering well for families in middle class areas, are failing children from poorer backgrounds.
Not one for pulling his punches, Wilshaw thinks early years professionals' lack of academic and teaching skills is the prime reason for disadvantaged children starting reception class many months behind their wealthier peers developmentally. His solution to this? A four-point plan designed to put schools firmly in the driving seat of early education. Wilshaw's plan has merit: in many communities, primary schools are the hub that support services revolve around, such as parenting classes, health checks and leisure facilities. If improving academic standards for young children is how you measure success, then teachers are the logical people to deliver on that.
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