An evidence-based approach to supporting children in the preschool years – a response from Pupil Pathways

The report An evidence-based approach to supporting children in the preschool years is a collaborative programme of work between Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives. The full citation is given below. 

In the Foreword, Anne Longfield and Camilla Kingdon consider the impact of Covid-19 on the children arriving or starting their time at primary school, especially those considered vulnerable. Their concerns include: 

“children arriving at Reception wearing nappies, still sitting in buggies, and unable to properly communicate or socialise with other children. Many of these children have developmental problems, struggle with speech and behaviour, and can require significant extra attention and support from already over-stretched school staff”. 

Unfortunately, “those who were deemed not school ready were nearly 2.5 times as likely to be persistently absent from school” 

School readiness and NEET 

The report also notes that these development problems can be long lasting. 

Analyses show that children who are not school ready are around three times as likely to be NEET at 16-17 years [16]. This large body of work demonstrates how preparing children for formal education during the early years (i.e., ensuring they are school ready) is pivotal to later outcomes. 

The team came up with seven principles. They note that their recommendations are pragmatic in nature and recognise that the UK is in a perilous financial state. These recommendations do not pretend there is a magic wand that will immediately fix the system. 

One of these principles is Using and sharing information across public service providers effectively 

In it they state that “The efficient transmission of information between preschool settings and schools will stop children falling through the knowledge gaps that currently appear when children transition from one setting to another” 

Pre-school to reception transitions 

Pupil Pathways is currently working with selected local authorities on StepIntoSchool. This uses the experience of supporting primary to secondary transitions acquired over the last five years and applying it to the move to reception from nursey schools and other pre-school settings. 

Helping you support the learners in your care 

We would be delighted to help you support your children at the start of their school journey. Please use our contact page so we can start a discussion and build a lasting partnership. 

Full citation 

Powell, L., Spencer, S., Clegg, J., Wood, M. L. et al. (2024). A country that works for all children and young people: An evidence-based approach to supporting children in the preschool years, doi.org/10.48785/100/27