Figures show 30% of 5-year-olds in Bolton South East not at correct language level

The data has been obtained by MP for the area Yasmin Qureshi, who is also concerned at the “significant gap” in performance between boys and girls at that age — and his written to new Education Secretary Justine Greening on the issue.

Ms Qureshi said she has received new evidence from the Save the Children charity which indicates that in her constituency, nearly 30 per cent of five year olds did not achieve the expected level of speech and language skills by the age of five last year.

The 71 per cent of youngsters that did reach that level is well below the national average of 80 per cent.

Ms Qureshi explained: “There is also evidence of a significant gap in performance between boys and girls at this age — with 65 per cent of boys and 78 per cent of girls achieving the expected level of speech and language at age five.

“This represents a 13 percentage point gap which, again, puts Bolton South East in a poorer position that the national average.”

In her letter to Ms Greening she adds: “We know that strong early development is an essential component of a child’s life chances and it is concerning that any children should be failing to meet the expected standard.

“But I am particularly shocked to learn that 290 five year old boys in my area were already behind when they started school — falling behind in this way is likely to have a long-term consequences for their school attainment, their earning potential and opportunities in later life.”

Ms Qureshi said the evidence from the charity suggests that “high quality early education led by graduate early year’s teachers can make a significant difference.”

She goes on to ask Ms Greening for assurances that the government’s forthcoming fair funding review of early years education will include proposals for ‘sustainable funding’ for quality into the early years system and for an increase in the numbers of early years teachers.