Parenting skills ‘key factor in social mobility’

Gaps between the prospects of the richest and poorest children can be traced back to their earliest years, according to a report by the all-party parliamentary group on social mobility.

The report argues that a lot of attention has been paid to making sure children from poorer backgrounds go to university, but that help also needs to be provided at a much earlier stage.

The biggest influences on a child’s social mobility are what happens up to the age of three, mainly in the home, and there is a “massive premium” on parenting skills, MPs claim.

It cites evidence which shows the richest 20 per cent of children are around twice as likely to be read to every day at the age of three as the poorest 20 per cent.

The most affluent youngsters are also more likely to have a regular bed time, be ready for school at the age of three and have a better vocabulary at five.

The link between a parent’s social class or their income and their child’s educational achievement needs to be broken, according to the report.

It argues that there must be more focus on making sure youngsters are ready for school, are progressing in reading, that there are excellent teachers working in poorer areas and that increasing numbers of poorer children take part in after-school activities.

Group chairman Damian Hinds said: “One of the key central things we’re saying, if you’re talking about nought to three-year-olds, is that a lot of that is to do with what goes on in the home.

“This is not easy territory because it’s about parenting. No one wants to be telling parents what to do in their own home.

“There are things which we know are good for children, like having books in the home, holding them, a good diet. The challenge is to find ways to encourage good parenting.”

He said one suggestion put forward was to mimic the “five a day” of fruit and vegetables idea, with “five things a day that parents could be encouraged to do”.

Mr Hinds added: “For a long time we have lagged behind our international competitors in ensuring all Britons can realise their potential.

“To bridge the gap will require a shared commitment between schools, universities and firms, government and the voluntary sector.”