20/10/2003

'Parental involvement' improves children's learning

Young children whose parents were involved in their learning had better language skills and were more numerate than those who parents were not, according to new research published today by the Department for Education and Skills.

The research, published to coincide with at the start of Parents Week, found that children aged three to five whose parents participated in their early education through the Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP) achieved systematically higher by 5% than those who didn't. Similarly their scores on numbers were higher by over 7%.

The research supports evidence presented in a report by Charles De Forges which shows that good parenting in the home can make over a 10% difference to children's outcomes at school.

Launching a range of new resources to provide parents with support and information, Children, Young People and Families Minister Margaret Hodge will today say: "Young children whose parents understand how to help their children's education do better at school. They can speak and count better than those whose parents don't. Simple things, like regularly reading to babies, make the world of difference.

A new parents website was launched today providing all the information parents need about the education system in England and support for parents in helping their child to learn. It is available at www.parentcentre.gov.uk

(gmcg)

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