HM Government

The impact of the early years environment on child development

The psychological, social and physical environment that children experience when they are very young has a profound impact on their subsequent lives. Recent research shows that most of our important neural development has been formed by the age of three. We know, too, that language skills children have acquired by the age of five are a critical predictor of later life chances.

Gaps in development between children from different backgrounds open up early. Children in the 30% most disadvantaged local authorities remain far less likely to be developing well than children in other areas at age five (39% compared to 55%), and there is a significant gap between lowest achieving children and the rest.¹

This means that the early years offer a unique opportunity for learning and development. But it also means that if this opportunity is missed, it is hard for children to catch up. This is damaging to individuals and to society as a whole.

Notes

1. Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Foundation Stage Profile Results in England, 2007/08