Barnet (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Data analysis reveals nearly a third of toddlers in Barnet are underdeveloped, raising concerns over early childhood education and development in the borough.
According to new data, almost one-third of Barnet toddlers missed important developmental milestones last year.
A well-known children’s organization has cautioned that parents are now unable to obtain essential support because of underfunded programs like family hubs.
According to data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 70% of 812 Barnet children between the ages of two and two-and-a-half met the expected norm when evaluated in five important areas of development. This represents an increase from 4% the previous year.
This, however, fell short of the most recent data prior to the coronavirus pandemic, which showed that 78% of toddlers in all five locations exceeded the projected requirement in 2019–20.
Although it increased little from 79% to 80%, the percentage of young children in England who are developing as predicted stayed below pre-pandemic levels. This percentage has risen to 83% prior to the pandemic.
Too many children were “overlooked” even before the pandemic, according to Vicky Nevin, policy manager at the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children).
She added:
“It’s vital that parents can access trusted advice and support from professionals during this time. However, too often maternity, health visiting and family hubs services are under-resourced and hard to reach for families.”
Nevin called on the government to solve the 5,000 health visitor and 2,500 midwife shortages.
She also highlighted concerns about regional inequality, adding:
“We need to ensure that children and families across the nation can access quality support – avoiding a postcode lottery.
We hope to see ambitious commitments on this in the upcoming government spending review and the 10-year health plan.”
Additionally, the data demonstrated geographical disparities throughout the nation, with kids in Yorkshire and the Humber performing significantly better than their London counterparts.
In London, only 75% of children met the required benchmark, compared to 86% in Yorkshire and the Humber across all five areas.
Wokingham in the South East had the highest development rate in England at 95%, while Ealing in the capital had the lowest at only 23%.
What specific development areas were assessed in Barnet?
The development areas evaluated for Barnet children between the ages of two and two-and-a-half are in line with the National Curriculum and the early childhood development framework.
Emphasizes kids’ effective listening, understanding, and self-expression skills.
Covers both fine and gross motor abilities, such as handling items and painting, as well as running and jumping.
Evaluates children’s social skills, emotional control, and interpersonal interactions.
Assesses early writing and reading abilities, including letter recognition and book engagement.
Emphasizes fundamental numeracy abilities, such as comprehending patterns, shapes, and numbers.
Investigates children’s interest in people, technology, and their surroundings.