How can government close the early years attainment gap for boys from low-income families?

Boys from families living on low-incomes have been ‘left behind’ in early years policy making for decades. Nearly three in five boys from low-income families are not reaching a good level of development by the end of reception year, with long-term effects on their later educational attainment, job prospects, health and wellbeing. Two reports from the Institute for Government (IfG) – supported by Impact on Urban Health – set out how the government can ensure this group is not left behind in the implementation of its early years policy agenda over the next 12 months. Why have successive governments overlooked the needs of boys from low-income families? Where are promising models and practices already making a difference? What practical lessons do they offer central government as it works towards its target of 75% of five-year-olds being ‘school ready’ by 2028? To explore these questions and more, this event brought together a panel featuring: Claire Ainsley, Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Candice James BEM, Director of the Loughborough Community Centre Miriam Loxham, Senior Principal, Early Years and Family Help at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Alistair Strathern MP, Member of Parliament for Hitchin and Co-chair of the Labour Group for Men and Boys Shaina Sangha, Researcher at the Institute for Government, started the event with a presentation of key findings from the reports. The event was chaired by Sophie Metcalfe, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Impact on Urban Health for kindly supporting this event.