If you’re going to invest in your child’s education, here’s why the early years are so key…
As parents, we all want to choose the very best school for our child, especially at the start of their educational journey. Independent schools offer everything from small class sizes to exceptional resources, but with the cost of private education reaching upwards of £250,000 by age 18, many families feel that they are being priced out.
The good news is that an emerging trend could offer families more options. A flexible approach of dipping in and out of private education is helping to make it more accessible. However, choosing a particular stage for independent education also presents the dilemma of where to focus your investment.
Research shows that the early years—particularly from birth to age seven, are the most critical for building lifelong learning foundations. For those weighing their options, investing in these formative years could provide the greatest long-term value. Here’s five reasons why the early years are so important for setting your child up for future success.
1. The early years are a critical period for brain development
Studies have repeatedly shown that the foundations laid during early childhood significantly shape future success. From birth to around age seven, the brain is forming neural connections at a rapid pace, creating millions of synapses that set the stage for social, cognitive, and emotional development. By age seven, children have formed the core skills that will impact their ability to learn, socialise, and adapt throughout their lives.
According to an article in NationSwell (2014): “The future success of every child is in many ways determined before he or she turns 8. During those early years, how that child learns and develops – mentally, emotionally and socially – is critical. This isn’t a theory. It’s a fact, based on decades of research on the positive effects of quality early-learning experiences on children’s lives.”
2. Early social and emotional skills form the foundation for future relationships
Children begin developing crucial social and emotional skills, such as empathy, self-regulation, and cooperation during the early years. These skills will help young children form positive relationships, both through their school career and later in life. A nurturing early environment helps children build confidence, resilience, and the ability to manage emotions, which can set them up for future social success.
Ngaire Telford is Headteacher at Herne Hill School, an independent co-ed Pre-Prep and Nursery in South-East London. She says: “In a world of AI and instantaneous knowledge facts from internet searches, it’s the children’s EQ (emotional intelligence) developed in their early years that will likely set them apart and ensure long-term success and happiness.”
3. High-quality early years education makes a long-lasting impact
High-quality early years education is crucial for children’s long-term success. The benefits are not limited to academic achievement. A strong start in the early years can impact social, emotional, and behavioural development, as well as future health and earning potential.
Ngaire Telford says: “Studies from around the world confirm that the Early Childhood Education period runs through to the age of 7 – 8 (i.e. until the end of English Key Stage 1) and requires a special pedagogical approach. This stage offers by far the greatest return on investment – not least because longitudinal studies have shown that advances achieved by that age tend to ‘stick’ and last a lifetime.”
4. Continuity through age seven can have a profound effect
Experts like Professor Pat Preedy, co-author of Early Childhood Education Redefined (2019), have long advocated for continuous early childhood education up to the age of seven. Children consolidate their foundational skills during this period, and making school changes too early can disrupt developmental progress. Waiting until age seven to make educational changes can also give parents a clearer understanding of their child’s needs, abilities, and the type of environment in which they will thrive.
Ngaire Telford says: “Going into a new/different setting at Reception age will inevitably trigger some anxiety and require a new settling-in period. Children have to get used to new facilities, faces, unfamiliar teaching approaches, etc. As a consequence, there will undoubtedly be some sub optimisation compared with ‘what might have been’. The child’s development will, of course, still progress – just not to the full potential that would have been achieved with 4+ continuity.”
5. The early years set the foundation for future success
Ultimately, the early years are a key time when the foundations for lifelong learning and success are built. Focusing on this stage ensures that your child will have the skills, confidence, and emotional resilience to tackle future challenges. If financial considerations mean choosing just one stage for an independent education, there is no better place to invest than in the early years. This can then be followed by state school education until 11+ (before continuity during the difficult years of adolescence once again becomes paramount) or potentially all the way through A levels. Children with an early years head-start in the independent sector often ‘sail through’, graduating above average and often have higher chances of acceptance at top universities.
This is a sponsored post created in collaboration with Herne Hill School, a co-ed Pre-Prep and Nursery in South-East London.
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