Barbara Hearn discusses the latest report from NCB, Family and Parenting Institute, and the Institute for Education which explores how the gap between rich and poor children in educational achievements could be addressed through fresh ideas.
A recent report by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB), Family and Parenting Institute and the Institute of Education, has examined what happens to children at home and in school, and explains the complex dynamics of inherited disadvantage. The report sets out new ideas of how we can ‘narrow the gap’ between rich and poor.
Coming at a time when many disadvantaged children in our country do less well than their innate abilities should allow, Reducing Inequalities: realising the talents of all, hopes that future policies and practice interventions will narrow the gap. Despite considerable effort over recent years, there remains a strong link between the circumstances into which a child is born and their adult outcomes.
The report used data from a study that tracked 17,000 people born in 1970. It may be no surprise to know that a child born to a labourer is six times more likely to suffer extreme poverty by the age of 30 than a child born to a lawyer; but is it acceptable?
The report reveals that it is the middle socio-economic groups who have the highest number of children who, without additional help, will face disadvantage later in life, but that bright children in the poorest families are likely to find succeeding at school a mountain they need more help to climb. The good news is that with the right support this can be changed and to do this, we need to work to strengthen parent’s ability to support learning, children’s ability to regulate their own behaviour and to rethink the goals of the school experience. Combined with the extension of learning deep into every community, we will see improvement.
If we fail to take this action, then schools will remain part of why social disparities pass from generation to generation and children’s externalising behaviours* will simply be treated as a problem of discipline.
Further findings from the report state that children’s chance of success in later life depends on their ability for self-control in stressful situations, not just, as has been suggested before, on their reading or mathematical ability. The publication also reports that if parents - regardless of their social class, education or wealth – support their child’s learning they can reduce inequalities and increase their child’s chances in life by having a positive influence at every stage of their development.
‘Reducing Inequalities: realising the talents of all’ found having 10 risk factors in childhood predicted multiple deprivations in adulthood by the age of 30 and these same factors are preventing multiply deprived children from achieving their potential. These include factors such as parental occupation, low income and social housing.
The government has said that ensuring every child achieves their potential is one of its highest priorities. NCB and its partners is proud that this report is groundbreaking in its exploration of the link between children, schools and families and the impact that schools, families and the community have on children’s outcomes. At NCB, we believe that it will inform the work necessary to achieve this aspiration.
Barbara Hearn is the Deputy Chief Executive of the National Children's Bureau