http://acadablog.com/boys-lag-behind-girls-in-literacy-survey-2/Five-year-old boys lag behind girls of the same age in
reading, writing and Maths, official statistics suggest.

Overall, 60 per cent of five-year-olds in England were
considered to be achieving a good level of development –
eight percentage points up on last year.

The figures are based on teachers’ assessment of children’s
progress at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage last
year.
Ministers said too few young children were ready to start
school.

Education Minister Sam Gyimah called on nurseries and
child minders to do more to improve children’s progress.

"More support"
“The statistics published today clearly show that some
progress is being made but more must be done to ensure
children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds,
are put on the right path,” he said.

Ministers say the gap between those from the most
disadvantaged areas and the rest is unchanged on last
year’s figures, at 12 per cent.

Only 53 per cent of children in the poorest neighbourhoods
achieved a good level of development compared with 65 per
cent in better-off areas.

The government says it has introduced the Early Years Pupil
Premium to give nurseries and childminders additional
funding for specialist high quality support for the most
disadvantaged children.

“It’s now up to those who support our children to ensure
they get the start in life they deserve. Something parents
and I both want to see,” said Mr Gyimah.

The statistics, which record teacher assessments of pupils’
academic progress as well as physical development and
social skills, showed a marked gender gap.

Teachers assessed 69 per cent of five-year-old girls as
achieving a good level of development in 2013 to 2014,
compared with 52 per cent of boys.

Just 59 per cent of boys met the expected standard in
writing in 2013 to 2014, compared with three-quarters of
girls.

In reading, 68 per cent of boys met the standard, compared
with 80 per cent of girls.

And in maths, only 22 per cent of girls struggled to count to
20, compared with 29 per cent of boys.

Neil Leitch of the Pre School Learning Alliance criticised Mr
Gyimah’s comments.

"Unfair criticism"
“We are extremely disappointed that the minister has used
these results, which show a marked improvement in
outcomes across all areas of development, to direct unfair
criticism at the early years sector.

“It is true that there is more work to be done to ensure that
all children, and particularly those from disadvantaged
backgrounds, are given the best start in life.

“However, the government needs to acknowledge the role
that it itself must play in supporting these improvements.”
Mr Leitch said childcare professionals continued to do
remarkable work despite inadequate funding.

He said initiatives like the Early Years Pupil Premium would
do little to address the challenges “largely because the
government refuses to acknowledge the severity of the
current problem”.

School absence in England falls, figures show
The number of children missing lessons in England has
fallen, government statistics indicate.

Pupils missed 35.7 million days of school in the autumn and
spring terms of 2013-14 – down by 4.2 million on the same
two terms the previous year.

The government said the fall was partly due to a
clampdown on families taking children away on holiday in
term-time.

The overall authorised absence rate – time off which is
approved by head teachers – fell from 4.3 per cent to 3.5
per cent.

In total, 2.5 million school days in England were lost due to
family holidays, both those authorised by the school and
those unauthorised. This is down 0.8 million from 3.3
million the year before.

"New holiday rules"
Government officials suggested that this drop was down to
tough new rules on holidays which mean that head
teachers can now only grant permission for trips during
term time in “exceptional circumstances”.
Before, schools could allow up to 10 days leave a year for
family holidays in special circumstances.

The change has been controversial, with critics arguing that
some families cannot afford, or are not in a position, to take
breaks during the school holidays.

The statistics show a “small increase” in family holidays that
have not been approved by the school, suggesting that
some parents are deciding to take family trips even though
they don not have the school’s approval.