Poorer children 'struggle at school'

Friday 2 November 2012

Poorer children are twice as likely as other youngsters to suffer from developmental difficulties when they start primary school, new research shows.

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At the age of five, those from poorer homes are significantly behind children from more affluent backgrounds, according to a report for the charity Save the Children.

The Thrive at Five report is based on a study of 3000 children from different backgrounds across Scotland.

It finds that children living in poverty are 40% more likely to be behind in cognitive development, reducing their ability to gain knowledge and learn.Poorer children are twice as likely to have problems with physical development, twice as likely to have emotional difficulties when starting school and twice as likely to struggle with communication, including expressing themselves.They are 50% more likely to have problems with social knowledge, affecting, for example, their ability to mix with other children.Douglas Hamilton, head of Save the Children in Scotland, said: "The long-term ramifications of these developmental difficulties for children in poverty are very serious."Save the Children wants ministers to extend the right to free pre-school education to all two-year-olds living in poverty and wants poorer families given more access to parenting and family support programmes.

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Families

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Poorer children 'struggle at school'

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