WALES' poorest children are starting primary school already struggling with language skills argues Ready to Read a new report out today.

The Read On.Get On. campaign is calling for the Welsh Government to increase investment in the early years workforce and support for parents in their child’s early years. 

It says one in four children growing up in poverty in Wales leaves primary school unable to read well, and this gap begins in the early years.

Poverty affects children’s learning in different ways. Struggling on a low income creates stress and anxiety which can make it harder for parents to engage with their children’s learning.

A low income can limit the material resources available to support child’s early learning. This helps explain the persistent educational gap in Wales that each year, prevents thousands of our poorest children fulfilling their potential. 

An analysis has found that children living in poverty who had poor language skills at age five are much more likely to still be behind at age 11 than their better off peers. 

Children who read well by 11 do better at school, get better exam results and do better in the workplace.

The Ready to Read report shows how good quality support for children and parents in the early years can help improve language skills and ensure children start school ready and able to learn.

The Read On. Get On. campaign is a coalition of national literacy and communication organisations, charities, libraries, teaching unions and publishing agencies including Save the Children. 

The report welcomes recent initiatives in Wales yet calls on the Welsh Government to strengthen the quality of the early education workforce by ensuring all staff and parents have access to an early language expert by 2020