Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Initial Years of Education Vital for Kids' Later Cognitive Development

by VR Sreeraman on September 9, 2007 at 1:04 PM
Initial Years of Education Vital for Kids' Later Cognitive Development

A new research has revealed that while the relative progress of children in each year of school is important, the initial years of education of children are critical for their later cognitive development.

An assessment of over 70,000 children from Durham University's Curriculum, Evaluation and Management (CEM) Centre revealed that a good reception teacher makes the biggest and longest-lasting impact on primary school education.

Advertisement

A modest boost in reception year is still detectable in the final year of his/her primary schooling at the age of 11, equivalent to a improvement of about a fifth of a level in a child's SAT test results. This can be added to by boosts in later years.

The study also casts doubts on the current practice of schools focusing their best teachers on the later primary years in attempts to boost SAT test results used in Government league tables. A final dash to the finishing post at the end of Key Stage 2 might not result in the long terms gains that are so important for secondary education and beyond.
Advertisement

'This work reinforces research which shows early years education is critical for children's later cognitive development and that while attention should of course be given to every year of education, more value should be placed on the most sensitive times, the first few years,' the paper's author Professor Peter Tymms, Director of Durham's CEM Centre explained the potential policy implications said.

'Currently in England the primary school league tables have prompted schools to concentrate on generating the greatest gains in children's attainment in Year 6, to coincide with the year in which pupils sit the Government SAT tests from whose results the primary school league tables are published. This research shows that schools could well be misplacing some of their key resources and need to look carefully at their reception teaching and attainment of the children in this year group,' he adds.

The research also revealed the opposite was true, that setbacks in a child's reception year could still be creating negative repercussions for his/her schooling six years later.

The research data comes from the CEM Centre's Performance Indicators in Primary Schools (PIPS) assessments, which measure cognitive development, such as vocabulary, maths and reading, in children throughout primary education.

It used data from over 70,000 pupils who started school in England in 1999 and who were then tracked to the end of their primary education in 2005. It aimed to look for the impact of high quality provision in schools, by measuring relative progress (or 'value-added') year on year. The analysis found cumulative effects throughout primary schooling.

Source: ANI
SRM/J
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Child Health News

Group B Streptococcus Threat to Newborns
The presence of Streptococcus in the placenta was associated with a two- to three-fold increase in the probability of neonatal unit admission.
Can Maternal Discrimination Influence Baby's Brain Development?
Facing discrimination and acculturating during pregnancy could not only affect the mother but also potentially harm the baby's brain health.
Respiratory Infections Spike Among Kids in China
A number of pathogens are to blame for the rise in childhood acute respiratory diseases, according to Chinese health officials.
Measles Immunization Gaps in India Exposed
World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight the deficiencies in disease surveillance efforts.
Gender-Specific Brain Injury Interventions for Newborns
Need for gender-specific interventions in brain injuries has been highlighted by a new study due to its higher prevalence in newborn boys.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Initial Years of Education Vital for Kids' Later Cognitive Development Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests