Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the introduction of additional earlier age education to achieve better attainment and education benefits for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Evidence from the department’s Study of Early Education and Development and the Study of Effective Primary, Pre-school and Secondary Education is clear that good-quality early education at the age of two has a variety of very positive benefits for children. Both studies are attached.

All children have access to 15 hours early years education from the term after their third birthday. In addition the most disadvantaged children already have access to 15 hours a week free early education from the age of 2.