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Increase in low-attaining pupils as disadvantage gap 'shows no sign of reducing'

Literacy and numeracy Latest news Closing the gap Key stage 1 Coronavirus Covid recovery
The proportion of low-attainers in year 2 classrooms has tripled for reading and doubled for maths post-pandemic, presenting significant challenges for teaching staff.

An analysis has found that the socio-economic attainment gap in key stage 1 is wider now than before the pandemic and “shows no sign of reducing”.

A study published by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has investigated the impact of the pandemic on 6,029 pupils who were in Reception and year 1 in March 2020.

It finds that pupils from this cohort who were in year 3 in spring 2022 have, on average,“caught-up” in both reading and maths compared with pupils before the pandemic.

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