Inequalities in the experience of early education in England: access, peer groups and transitions

There are long-standing disparities in child development between children from different backgrounds. Progress in narrowing gaps is slow and differences remain wide, especially by household income. This Nuffield Foundation-funded project examined three aspects of children’s experience of early education that have been relatively overlooked to date but might be contributing to persistent disparities. It looked at access to free early education places, at peer group composition in pre-school, and at children’s experience of onward transition to reception class.