Response to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) new figures in England
Action for Children welcomes the improvement in today's Early Years Foundation Stage results in England. However warns the widening disadvantage gap underlines the need to tackle child poverty and improve access to early education and family support.
In response to the figures Emma Gardner, Director of Early Years and Childcare at Action for Children, said:
"It's encouraging to see more children reaching a good level of development by the end of Reception. Yet the widening gap between children in low-income families and their peers is concerning, and shows there is still much more to do.
The Secretary of State for Education is right: this gap must close.
Children's development is shaped from birth by their experiences at home, in early education and in their communities. Through our early years settings and family support services, we understand the importance of combining high-quality, accessible and inclusive early education with financial, practical and emotional support for parents, and timely help for children with additional needs.
Closing the disadvantage gap cannot be left to schools alone. It means looking at the full context of children's lives, including tacking child poverty and easing the financial pressures families face.
In addition to strengthening support through family hubs, ahead of next week’s budget, we’re calling on the government to extend the Early Learning entitlement to 15 hours’ free childcare a week for eligible 2-year-olds down to 9 months, and regardless of their parents' employment status."
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joel Meekison – Media Manager at Action for Children
07411482505 / [email protected]
Out of hours: 020 3124 0661 / [email protected]
NOTES TO EDITOR:
- It has been published on 22 October in new figures that 72.3% of children achieved a good level of development at the end of Reception, up from 68.3% in 2024/25. Department for Education: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-results-2025-to-2026
- Among children eligible for free school meals, 54.8% achieved a good level of development, compared with 76.4% of children not eligible – a gap of 21.6 percentage points, and 1.1 points wider than last year.
- A survey by Action for Children and IPPR in May 2026 found that 20% of low-income working parents said they had not been able to take on better paid work or increase working hours because of the cost of childcare. Work_isnt_working_May26.pdf
