According to an enlightening new report compiled by the University College London's Institute of Child Health and charity Save the Children, a child's development can be impaired considerably if inadequate stimulation is provided during a toddler's pre-school years.

During a time when a toddler's brain is developing rapidly, experts insists that failure to met their neurological needs, both at home and in nursery, can result in academic struggles once beginning their journey through education.

Neurologists have established that during the period known as the 'lightbulb years', a toddler's brain will form connections at twice the speed of an adult meaning they require consistent input in order to maintain development.

Commenting on the matter, Professor Torsten Baldeweg from the Institute of Child Health said: "It is precisely this period where we have explosive brain growth, where most of the connections in the brain are formed. We need input to maintain them for the rest of our lives."

Elaborating on the research, he continued: "We know that if these connections are not formed they, to variable degrees, will suffer longer term consequences to their physical, cognitive but also emotional development."
 


Echoing these sentiments, Steve McIntosh from Save the Children told Sky News: "All the evidence shows that children's pre-school years are amongst the most rapid and active periods of brain development, which makes it absolutely vital that we get early learning right."

Highlighting the government's need to play a role, he continued: "To give every child the best start in life we need not just advice and support for parents to help with early learning at home, we're calling on the Government to boost the nation’s nurseries and ensure every nursery is led by a qualified nursery teacher."

Responding to calls from neuroscientists and charity workers, UK Education and Childcare Minister Sam Gyimah insists the government is meeting requirements, saying: "This Government is raising the bar and making a significant investment in the early years sector, working closely with the profession to help improve its status.."

Having explained that salaries have increased and funding for trainee courses has been provided, Minister Gyimah asserted: "We know that 80% of children are achieving the expected communication and language skills by age five - an increase of 8 percentage points since 2013. But we are determined to go further." 


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