Less than half the children born into the poorest families in the North reach a good standard of development by the time they are five years old, according to IPPR North’s annual State of the North report.
Whereas 59% of children born into poverty in London achieve a good level of early years development, the figure drops by 12% for their peers born in northern areas.
This creates what the study characterises as a stark ‘early years gap’ which holds people back later on in life, and can effect the future productivity of northern regions. At the moment, the north’s productivity trails the national average by 10.6%.
The report argues that closing the gap in early years achievement is one of 11 benchmarks against which progress of the Northern Powerhouse should be assessed.
Ed Cox, director at IPPR North, said: ‘We will never become a powerhouse economy when our children and young people have such a poor start in life. It will take a generation of investment: not only in new railways and motorways, but in the ‘human capital’ of the North – in education and training, starting with the youngest.
‘If the Northern Powerhouse is to be successful,’ he continued, ‘economic powers must be devolved to all corners of the north to allow businesses and policymakers to develop an economy that supports more productive, resilient and sustainable growth: jobs that pay well, prosperity that is shared, and opportunities for all.’
