Heather Sandy, Chair of the ADCS Inclusive Education Policy Network said:

“ADCS shares the government’s ambition to give every child the best start in life. While local targets recognise different starting points and circumstances, the significant variation in outcomes for disadvantaged children highlights the deep-rooted inequalities that persist across the country. Improving school readiness must go hand in hand with narrowing the disadvantage gap.

“Local authorities are ambitious for children, but targets alone will not deliver meaningful change. Poverty, poor housing, and barriers to accessing health services continue to affect children’s development. Achieving lasting improvements requires sustained investment in early years services and family support, alongside coordinated action across government to tackle the wider inequalities that shape children’s life chances.”

ENDS

The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) Ltd is the professional leadership association for Directors of Children's Services and their senior management teams in England.