Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding of the report by the Education Policy Institute Growing apart: The evolution of the disadvantage gap, published on 10 June, that 40 per cent of the disadvantage gap at age 11 is already established by age 5; and what plans they have to address this gap in early years education.

The government is committed to breaking the link between a child’s background and future success.

The department recognises that disadvantage can affect children’s development before they start school, which is why we have a target for 75% of children to reach a good level of development by the end of reception by 2028.

Early education gives all children, and especially disadvantaged children, the best start in life. The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) improves educational outcomes of socio-economically disadvantaged children who are eligible for free early years entitlements in an early years setting.

Building on the largest ever uplift in 2025/2026, the EYPP rate has increased by 15% to £1.15 per hour in 2026/2027, equivalent to up to £655 per eligible child per year.

In addition, the Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies service is backed by £900 million between 2026 and 2029. Every local authority is funded to provide parenting and home learning support for families with children aged 0 to 5, helping children build strong foundations for development before they start school.