Boys ‘twice as likely to fall behind girls’ in early years

Boys are nearly twice as likely as girls to have fallen behind by the time they start school, a report says. Save the Children says a quarter of boys in England – 90,000 – started reception class struggling to speak a full sentence or follow instructions. The report, based on a University of Bristol study, says children who start school behind often never catch up. A Department for Education spokesperson said “we are making a significant investment in the early years sector”. The report compared girls’ and boys’ scores in the early language and communication goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage assessment. This assessment is taken at the end of Reception by all pupils in England. Children are expected to be able to listen and express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs. Read more…