Report

Policy making for left-behind groups: school readiness

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how government can start closing the opportunity gap in early years education.

The Starmer government has committed to five long-term missions, including to ‘break down barriers to opportunity’, and has set a target for 75% of five year-olds to be ‘school ready’ by the end of the parliament. How this challenge is framed will shape the policy approaches and choices that follow. Much has already been written about the struggles of the early years sector itself, from funding shortfalls and shortages of places to workforce recruitment and retention issues.

This paper approaches the subject from a different angle, investigating which groups are at greatest risk of not being school ready. Our analysis shows deep disparities in school readiness between different demographic groups. Identifying the children at greatest risk of being left behind – particularly those facing multiple, intersecting disadvantages – will better equip policy makers to deliver on the government’s stated ambition to close the opportunity gap.

This report begins that work. We want to invite anyone with experience and expertise in this area to get in touch with us, so we can add voice, perspective and lived experience to this analysis.