Tests carried out by Aberdeen education authority have shown for the first time that early intervention in Primary 1 made a real difference in helping five-year-olds from poorer backgrounds to catch up with their peers in maths and reading attainment.
The Aberdeen researchers used Performance Indicators in Schools (PIPS), a way of testing developed at Durham University, which is used in England and now increasingly used in Scotland. The system provides proof of progress and also pinpoints weaknesses, so that extra support can be given where needed.
The researchers noted 'a significant improvement in reading attainment in Primary 1 since 1999/2000' for all children. Scores in mathematical attainment also showed a significant improvement during the same time period. Differences in the scores between those children with a clothing grant and those without were then analysed and used as a means of identifying the gap in reading and mathematical attainment between children from poorer and better-off backgrounds.
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