ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 deals with the early years gaps and how to address these so that disadvantaged children are not left a year behind by the end of their reception year. It involves changing some of the methods used for most of the 20th century in order to close the literacy gap. It shows how and why the literacy gaps of disadvantaged groups arise and what needs to be done to close them in reading spelling and handwriting. A similar investigation is made in relation to number and girls’ fear of maths is explained to show how it too can be overcome.
