Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book helps the readers to bridge the gap that exists between the academic outcomes of children from different socioeconomic backgrounds and examines how large that gap is, and some of the reasons for it. It also examines three key ideas: learning, education and schooling. The book focuses on the concept of the achievement gap: at what the gap is, how it has come about and who it affects. It suggests that the achievement gap arises from systemic, rather than intrinsically personal, issues and that the gap can be, if not entirely closed, then significantly narrowed. The book explores the concepts of parenting and parental involvement and then parental engagement in children's learning. It also focuses on the need to change the paradigm of schooling to narrow the gap and to support and increase parental engagement in children's learning.