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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pledges to invest in early language intervention

Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a new target for half a million children to reach the EYFS Early Learning Goals by 2030, if the Labour party wins the next general election.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour party, delivered his speech on the party's five missions, PHOTO: Labour Party
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour party, delivered his speech on the party's five missions, PHOTO: Labour Party

Delivering a speech on Labour’s education policy this morning in Kent, the Labour leader detailed the last of the party’s ‘five missions’,  to ‘break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage, for every child’.

He warned that a ‘class ceiling’ is currently holding children back who are not born privileged.

The Labour leader said his party would put more focus on 'teaching speaking skills'.

He pledged to use money raised by removing tax breaks for private schools to invest in early language intervention in primary schools, if Labour wins the next general election.

Charity Speech and Language UK called the goal an ‘admirable aim’, but warned how far away ‘we are from the ambition in the UK, with at least 1.7 million children struggling with the basics of talking and understanding words.’ The charity called for tools and training for nurseries and schools to turn things around.

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