Nursery World - Learning & Development: Closing the Gap

How one nursery chain is helping children from deprived households close the gap with their ‘lucky’ peers. By Annette Rawstrone

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The cognitive development of children in the early years is largely shaped by their home environment, so what are the life outcomes for children who grow up in chaotic or deprived households?

This was the dilemma for staff at Little Rascals Childcare in the West Midlands who have responded by developing their own approach to working with children at risk of underachievement.

‘Two of our nurseries are in very deprived areas, one is in the lowest 5 per cent of deprivation in the country. On a daily basis we deal with multiple safeguarding issues,’ says owner Debbie Clarke. ‘Some children live in violent homes, others in poor housing, our children live in estranged families and a lot of our parents have mental health issues. Sadly, some children live in multiples of the above. If we don’t try and close the gap, who will?’

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