When it comes to evaluating the effects of pre-school education on children, there is no substitute for large-scale, long-term research. The results of two such studies have just been released - the UK's Effective Provision of Pre-School Education project with 3,000 children now aged seven, and the High/Scope Perry Pre-School Programme in the US, which has tracked its participants up to the age of 40 (see News, page 4). The findings will give heart and lobbying ammunition to those calling for greater investment in early years services. It is clear that high-quality pre-school education has lasting benefits for children in all areas of their development, especially when they come from a deprived background.
When it comes to evaluating the effects of pre-school education on children, there is no substitute for large-scale, long-term research. The results of two such studies have just been released - the UK's Effective Provision of Pre-School Education project with 3,000 children now aged seven, and the High/Scope Perry Pre-School Programme in the US, which has tracked its participants up to the age of 40 (see News, page 4).
The findings will give heart and lobbying ammunition to those calling for greater investment in early years services. It is clear that high-quality pre-school education has lasting benefits for children in all areas of their development, especially when they come from a deprived background.
The 'high-quality' element is, of course crucial, and such services cost what looks like a lot of money. Children need the right staff - well-trained and properly-paid - the right resources, and the right integration of education and care. However, as the High/Scope study shows, the economic benefits of children growing up to have better jobs, paying more taxes, staying off state hand-outs, staying out of prison and so on far outweigh the investment when they are three and four years old.
These are lessons that the ten-year childcare strategy (due out today) must learn and act upon.
