Published by the Department for Education today (24 November), the results for 2021-22 show that 49.1 per cent of children eligible for free school meals achieved a good level of development under the EYFS, compared to 68.8 per cent of those not eligible for the benefit – a difference of 19.6 percentage points.
The figures are drawn from teacher assessments of children’s development at the end of the EYFS – the summer term of Reception year. Children are judged against 17 early learning goals (ELGs) across seven areas of learning.
Action for Children said that the statistics reveal a ‘stark and alarming gap in school readiness between disadvantaged five-year-olds and their peers.’
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