This fictional account from an Ian McEwan novel was written 25 years ago - and what has changed? In the wake of last summer's riots, and considering the stubborn inequalities that leave many young people unprepared to contribute and to benefit from society, today's policymakers are putting their energies in the same direction.
But while I welcome the evidence which shows that high-quality early years education can support greater resilience, achievement, and future citizenship, I think we need to be wary of taking on the mantle of being the solution to all society's ills. The idea of 'what should be done to children' in the interests of society's tomorrow is worrying, as it risks tipping the scales away from what a child needs today.
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