NI children living in poverty are lagging behind in education

CHILDREN living in poverty in Northern Ireland are already lagging behind theirpeers when they start school, a study has found.

More than 100,000 young people here are in poverty.

Research published today warns that children are being left behind at five and highlights theimpactontheircognitiveand languageskillsattheagesofseven, 11 and 14.

Itshowsthat34%offive-yearolds growing up in poverty are in the lowest performing group, compared to one fifth (22%) of theirpeers.

The figures also reveal that children who begin theirschool life behind their classmates struggle to catch up.

The data was commissioned by Save the Children, a charity which promotes the rights of young people.

It called forurgent action to tackle the issue.

PeterBryson, head of Save the Children in Northern Ireland, said: “Too many children

Concerns: Peter Bryson

in Northern Ireland are falling behind even before they start school.

“We have a commitment in the Programme forGovernment to give every child the best start in life, this is welcome but this research suggests that action is needed now, child poverty is on the rise therefore the longerwe wait the biggerthe gap will become and the harderit will be to solve.

“Previous research has shown that by the age of three, poorerchildren are estimated to be, on average, nine months behind children from wealthierbackgrounds.

“Since we know that 38% of low income children live in families where the youngest child is underfive, it is crucial that interventions focusing on breaking the link between poverty and educational achievement take place long before children start school, when the need is greatest and they can make the most difference.

“The impact of poverty on children’s early learning means they are more likely to struggle with vital areas of theirdevelopment,suchaslanguageandcommunication skills.

“Being behind in the early yearsmeansit’smorelikelythey will be behind throughout their school years and beyond. But the right interventions can have a positive impact.”

The research showed that around half of children in poverty who were in the lowest performinggroupforlanguageability at five years of age remain in the bottom at age seven, 11 and 14.

However, around half of low income children in the lowest performing group, latermoved out of it.