New report claims children from the poorest homes risk becoming an "educational underclass"

 The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think tank has released a new report on the causes of educational failure. The report startlingly concludes that children from the poorest backgrounds risk becoming an “educational underclass”, expressing fears that some children are starting school in nappies with the social skills of a two-year-old. The report says an “abysmal” start in life leaves pupils unready for school, which means that children need to be helped to catch up as quickly as possible, including basic social skills and how to improve their language abilities. The report cites cases where, after a year, some pupils are still not be able to recognise that words are read from left to right. The research suggests that the lack of social skills leads such children to being disruptive and occasionally physically threatening towards other pupils.

Telegraph