Commenting on the report by the Education Policy Institute
about the development of the early years workforce in England,
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said:
“High-quality early years education is the magic bullet.
Everybody has known that for years and yet this report shows the
government lacks a long-term strategy to develop the skills of
the early years workforce.
“The sad fact is that too many children start school at the
age of four without the same language and social skills as their
peers and in many cases this gap is never closed. Their destiny
is set before they are any age at all.
“If we are ever to stand a chance of closing this gap and
improving social justice the government must develop a coherent
strategy to ensure that all children are able to access
high-quality early years education which prepares them for
school.
“Crucially, this is not just about extending provision but
also about developing the early years workforce so they have the
training and skills necessary to identify gaps in development and
put in place strategies to bridge them.
“If the government is serious about restoring hope in our
most disadvantaged communities this would be a very good starting
point.”
