Nursery World - Early years aid must rise

Sarah Brown, chair of Theirworld, and Dr Pauline Rose call on international aid donors to increase their investment in pre-primary education in the poorest countries

Sarah Brown and Dr Pauline Rose

Study after study shows that spending on children’s formative, pre-school years, especially in the poorest countries, is one of the best investments that can be made.

That is when children’s brains are developing most rapidly and they can be set on a path that will best fulfil their potential.

Experts say that the rate of return for every pound spent on boosting the health, social skills and three Rs of the under-fives far outweighs the return on the same sum spent at a later age.

Young children who have the opportunity of early childhood programmes will learn more effectively when they begin primary school and are less likely to drop out of education – helping to level up opportunities across the globe.

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