iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Emily Hunt

Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Narrowing the disadvantage gap is the defining educational challenge of our time. This new report from @edupolicyinst.bsky.social & @theeef.bsky.social offers some grounds for cautious optimism that we can begin to tackle that challenge. More detail from lead author @msemilyhunt.bsky.social below.

011

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

To conclude, educational inequalities are not inevitable. But the evidence shows they emerge early, widen over time and reflect the accumulation of multiple disadvantages over time. That points towards a need for both earlier intervention and sustained support throughout education.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Peer and institutional factors make a smaller contribution to the national gap than individual-level characteristics at every phase. BUT these factors matter more by 16-19 education: cohort disadvantage accounts for 10 per cent of the 16-19 gap, reflecting selection into post-16 pathways.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

A particularly interesting finding is that where SEND is identified early & support is sustained, outcomes can look v different – and in some cases, comparable to peers without SEND. This reinforces the importance of timely identification and sustained support, and recognising diversity within SEND

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

The report also highlights the central role of SEND. SEND is the single largest measurable contributor to the gap at age 5 (see chart) and the second largest at KS2. By later stages, much of its influence is operating indirectly through prior attainment.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Absence emerges as one of the most important factors associated with the gap, esp as pupils get older. It contributes one-fifth of the KS2 gap, rising to one-third at KS4. Importantly, this isn't only about persistent or severe absence. Even moderate absence is associated with much lower attainment

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Prior attainment in certain subjects - namely maths and English - seems to be particularly important across phases. For example, at KS2, much of the gap-contribution comes from differences at age 5 in just 3 (out of the 7) domains of the EYFSP: literacy, maths, and communication & language.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

This might all sound familiar but one of our most striking findings is that that early attainment can act as a ‘protective factor’ against subsequent gap-widening. The educational trajectories established up to age 7 continue to shape the gap many years later (over & above later attainment).

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

One of the clearest messages from our research is that once you fall behind, it becomes increasingly difficult to catch-up: At KS2, age 5 attainment explains around 40% of the gap. At KS4, attainment across EYFS, KS1 and KS2 explains 44%. By 16–19, prior attainment explains the majority of the gap

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Disadvantaged children are already behind when they start school and the gap then widens at every stage. In 2023/24, the disadvantage gap was: • 4.6 months at EYFS • 10.1 months at KS2 • 17.9 months at KS4 • By KS5, disadvantaged students are 3.5 grades behind across their best 3 qualifications.

110

Reposted by Emily Hunt

David (Ted) Robinson @davidrobinsonedu.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

A really helpful unpacking of the concerning early years results from our Annual Report, from @msemilyhunt.bsky.social

012

Reposted by Emily Hunt

Education Policy Institute @edupolicyinst.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Young learners in England are facing a deepening crisis. Our Annual Report shows that disadvantaged five-year-olds are falling further behind their peers — and for children with SEND, the learning gap has widened to over 20 months, the widest gap on record 🧵 www.theguardian.com/education/20...

theguardian.com

Five-year-olds in England with special educational needs 20 months behind peers – report

Children from lower-income families also remain significantly behind their peers as impact of pandemic continues to be felt

145

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

With 4 years remaining in this parliament, there’s still time to act to support a generation starting school already behind & close the gap for those yet to begin. Thanks to @theguardian.com for covering our research: www.theguardian.com/education/20...

theguardian.com

Five-year-olds in England with special educational needs 20 months behind peers – report

Children from lower-income families also remain significantly behind their peers as impact of pandemic continues to be felt

000

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

We also need fairer funding. The recent boost to the early years pupil premium is a start but capped at £570, it remains a little over a third of the primary rate (£1,515). That cliff-edge must be addressed. We await details of next year’s ‘additional funding to extend EYPP in areas most in need’.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

But govt must also tackle the underlying barriers to school readiness. Nearly half of all children in poverty in families have a youngest child aged under five. The long-delayed child poverty strategy must be published – and include scrapping the 2 child benefits cap and auto-enrolment for FSM.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

If govt is serious about school readiness, last week’s Early Years Strategy announcement that Family Hubs will cover all LAs is welcome. We know from IFS's evaluation of Sure Start that integrated children’s services can be transformative in the long-term, including lowering demand for SEN Support.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

It also matters for govt’s ambitious target for 75% of children to be school ready by 2028 (v 68% now). As @instituteforgovernment.org.uk has warned, with some groups much further behind – disadvantaged, SEND & some minority ethnic groups – inequalities could actually widen in the drive to meet it

110

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

This matters for policy. Primary school teachers – already stretched – are now supporting more children with complex needs, particularly autism and speech, language and communication needs. That’s why we’re calling on govt to prioritise training in child development and different types of SEND.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

What’s striking is that these children weren’t in school when the pandemic hit yet are still paying the price. Aged 1-2 yos when the pandemic struck, they missed formative opportunities for play, development and interactions with professionals. One-in-five parents received no health visits at all.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

This echoes what teachers tell us. In a recent survey, teachers report children in reception are struggling to sit still (45% of children), follow simple instructions (34%) and in some cases, use the toilet (25%). They’re spending 2.4 hours of teaching time per day, on average, to support catch-up.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

For children with SEND, the picture is starker still: those in reception year with an EHCP are, on average, 20 months behind – the widest gap since our records began in 2013. The percentage of under 5s with an EHCP has increased by 26% between 2023 and 2024 alone.

100

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Since early years statutory assessments resumed in 2022, overall development levels have improved. But not for everyone. Disadvantaged five-year-olds are now almost 5 months of learning behind their more affluent peers – a wider gap than at any point in the five years before the pandemic.

110

Emily Hunt @msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Today the @edupolicyinst.bsky.social has published our latest assessment of educational inequalities in England. It’s a rich report but some of our most concerning findings relate to the early years where we find a deepening crisis: epi.org.uk/annual-repor...

epi.org.uk

Annual Report 2025 - Education Policy Institute

The Education Policy Institute (EPI) Annual Report looks at the state of education in England, with a focus on the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. EPI’s 2025 Annual Repor...

174

Reposted by Emily Hunt

Education Policy Institute @edupolicyinst.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Looking forward to EPI Associate Director @msemilyhunt.bsky.social speaking at this free @greenshawrs.bsky.social webinar on our 'Breaking Down the Gap' report next week, sign up below 👇

032