Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Education
Baroness Eaton
Main Page: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Eaton's debates with the Department for Education
(1 day, 17 hours ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
The noble and right reverend Lord rightly says that, although this is important progress, and we will have a broad range of partners, there are of course other issues, such as child poverty and lack of housing, which this Government are absolutely committed to addressing.
Baroness Eaton (Con)
My question follows on from that of the noble Baroness, Lady Lister. Apparently, many children arrive at reception level unprepared for being in school, which is really a parenting problem as much as anything. How do we get reluctant parents to accept the work of the centres, and how do they become involved? What incentives will we have to get those reluctant parents to take on the responsibility and have the help that they can so readily get?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
Yes, at the moment, one-third of children arrive with the lack of development to succeed. That is exactly why families will have an important role to play in the development, and parental support will be an important part of the services offered.