Early Language Development and Children’s Primary School Attainment in English and Maths: New research findings

One child in five starts primary school in England without the language skills they need to succeed, a figure that rises to one in three of the poorest children. This briefing paper presents new findings that show the real consequences for children who are struggling with their language skills. The findings are based on an analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study undertaken by the UCL Institute of Education for Save the Children. The analysis looks at the relationship between children’s language skills at age five and their attainment in English and maths at ages seven and 11.