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A fairer start - the key statistics

Our ambitious goal to narrow the outcome gap between children growing up in disadvantage and the national average is underpinned by this evidence

In A fairer start

England

In 2019, an estimated 180,000 were not achieving the government’s benchmark good level of development at the end of their reception year. These children are unlikely to be ready for Year 1. Children who had received free school meals (FSM) were less likely to be school-ready (54% are school-ready) compared with those who had not (74%).
The percentage of children who were school ready increased between 2013 and 2019 when it reached 72%. In 2022 this was 65% of children, although changes in the way this was measured means we cannot be sure this truly represents a fall in school readiness.
In 2019, FSM-eligible pupils were less likely to reach at least the expected standard than other pupils in every goal of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The difference was highest for reading and writing, with the maths goals close behind.
In every ethnic group, FSM-eligible pupils were less likely to meet the expected standard than non-FSM pupils.
The FSM gap is largest for White Irish (28%) and White British (23%).
The FSM gap is smallest for Gypsy Roma (2%), Black African (5%) and Bangladeshi (6%).
Value of early-years investment: In the UK, a recent study estimated that a lack of preventative early-years intervention costs society £16 billion a year – five times the expenditure on childhood programmes.
Children do less well in some places than others. For example, four in every five reception-age children have a good level of development in Richmond-upon-Thames compared to just three in five in Middlesborough.

Scotland

School assessments in Scotland show that during Covid, achievement in both numeracy and literacy was less good for all primary aged children than it had been before. But things are worse for children living in the most deprived areas. In 2018/19 there was already a gap in attainment where 84% of children in the least deprived areas achieved well in literacy compared to 63% in the most deprived areas, that’s a 21% difference. In 2020/21 that difference had increased to 25%, with only 54% of children in the most deprived areas achieving well. A similar pattern is seen for numeracy.

Wales

Seven-year-olds in Wales who are eligible for FSM are significantly less likely to achieve well at schools than their peers: in 2019, the difference was 20% (84% for children who don’t use FSM and 64% for children who do use FSM).

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A fairer start - the key statistics

About Nesta

A fairer start - the key statistics

England

Scotland

Wales

Tackling inequalities through proactive support during pregnancy

Integrating early education and childcare with broader early years family support

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A fairer start - the key statistics

About Nesta

A fairer start - the key statistics

England

Scotland

Wales

Also of interest

Tackling inequalities through proactive support during pregnancy

Integrating early education and childcare with broader early years family support

Towards a new era of integration in the early years

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