Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research from University College London about reducing the attainment gap between poorer boys and their more affluent peers through earlier schooling.

The University College London research indicated that disadvantaged boys benefitted most from receiving all 3 terms of reception education.

There are no longer local variations in the rules on when children can start school. The School Admissions Code requires the admission authorities for all schools to provide for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday. Parents may, however, delay their child’s admission until a later point in the reception year if they wish.

We know that early education from age 2 has long lasting benefits for children and helps to promote a child’s emotional, cognitive and social development. That is why the government introduced 15 hours of funded early education for the most disadvantaged 2 year old children from September 2013. Eligibility was expanded in September 2014 to include children from low income working families, children with a disability or special educational need and children who have left care. In April 2018, the government introduced an earnings threshold for families on Universal Credit, equivalent to a net income of £15,400 per year, to ensure that the entitlement is available to those who will benefit most. The intention behind the £15,400 threshold was to extend our reach so that the most disadvantaged parents could access a place for their child.