Children who were behind in their development at age 4-5 were almost three times as likely to have been out of education,employment,or training at age 16-17,analysis of pupil data has found.
4-5-ycar-olds in England are assessed by the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile,and those who reach the boundary of a"good level of development"are considered"school ready".
The new study in the journal BMC Public Health has found a significant gap in Not in Education,Employment or Training (NEET)outcomes between those who were ready and unready for primary school. The research drew on data from more than 8,000 Bradford young people whose records are linked as part of the Connected Bradford project. The research found that 11%of children who were not school ready went on to be NEET at 16-17, compared to just 4%of children who were school ready.
Lead author Dr Matthew Warburton,Research Officer at Leeds' School of Psychology, said:"These findings tell us that there are clear,early indicators for children and young people being at risk of disadvantage in late adolescence. As schools routinely collect this data,the research could be used to kickstart early intervention in schools based on primary school readiness. "
The research team,which also included academics from Lancaster University and the Bradford Institute for Health Research,say this shows a clear need for early intervention by schools to reduce disadvantage in later life.
This echoes the message from a series of N8 Child of the North and Centre for Young Lives reports on the need to put children and young people first. Senior author Dr Amy Atkinson,Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Lancaster University said:"Data from the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile is readily available for millions of children and young people in England. This information could,and should,be used to identify pupils at increased risk of becoming NEET. "