The headteacher of Newham’s only primary school offering education to two year olds has welcomed an Ofsted report stating that children from disadvantaged backgrounds need high-quality education from toddler age.
The early years annual report states that children do better in a school-based provision and flourish in familiar settings.
Gael Hicks, from St Helen’s in Canning Town, said: “The report stressed the need for skilled practitioners and reported that pre-reception age settings best equipped to help break ‘the cycle of disadvantage’ are those focused on helping children to learn at the earliest age.
“Here at St Helen’s we have seen the two year olds who are with us flourish and develop enormously. They are a lot more confident now and receive lots of support from highly-trained staff. I am convinced they are having the very best start to their education.”
Many children are entitled to up to 15 hours of free early education per week starting the term after their second birthday.
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