Pupil scores boosted by universal pre-school systems

A new study has shown that the UK would rank much higher in the international pupil performance tables had a universal pre-school education system been established in the 1990’s.

Researchers have estimated that the UK’s 15-year-olds would have been ranked higher on the PISA literacy test had they all experienced more than a year of pre-schooling. This claim is based on an analysis of the test scores and their correlation with the early educational experience of pupils in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The study shows that all social groups can benefit from pre-school provision, with children from the lowest socio-economic groups gaining the most from a universal pre-school scheme. Only 54% of those participants in the bottom socio-economic group had received pre-school education, in stark comparison with 73% in the most advantaged group.

The findings support the coalition government’s focus on extending pre-school provision to 130,000 two-year-olds from disadvantaged families, with a further 130,000 to be offered 15 hours of free nursery education from September 2014.

All three and four year olds are already entitled to 15 hours of free pre-school education for 38 weeks of the year.

Little Angels is a pre-school nursery based in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.  Call us on 01858 469 708 to arrange a visit to see around our premises.