UK Children Start School with Low Language Skills

The United Kingdom’s Department for Education (DfE) revealed that 28% of four- and five-year-old children in the country start school without basic language skills. Education Secretary Damian Hinds addressed this problem in his speech in London last July. According to educational researchers, some parents fail to provide an environment where their children can learn how to speak and read even simple words. Consequently, Hinds stated that children begin primary school with limited vocabulary, causing difficulties to keep up with their classmates. These children are also more likely to end up unemployed at age 34 compared to those who have a good vocabulary, another study disclosed. In the same speech, Hinds gave his word that by 2028, he will cut the number of children with poor vocabulary by half. To start off, he will hold an education summit wherein parents will be advised to teach their children how to speak and read. He will invite charities and businesses to help with this undertaking. The education secretary will also seek the help of tech companies. While there is a growing concern about children’s screen time, Hinds wants to make use of media and modern technology to furnish parents with teaching techniques. However, Philip Pullman, an acclaimed English author, and James Bowen, director of UK’s National Association of Head Teachers, said that technology is not the answer. Pullman urges parents to include their children in conversations even if they do not understand everything that is being said. Bowen also highlighted the importance of interaction and acknowledged that no amount of technology can replace reading a book with a parent.