Kids Starting School with Language Gaps | Wellington News

Education Minister Erica Stanford is sounding the alarm on a critical crisis: too many kids enter primary school with language skills at a two-year-old level, crippling their ability to learn, socialize, and thrive. This readiness gap, especially stark among disadvantaged children who fall behind in math, reading, and writing by Year Three, is widening before formal schooling even begins. The government’s new reforms aim to level the playing field from day one by expanding early childhood programs focused on oral language and self-regulation—but reaching kids outside early education and changing parenting habits remain huge hurdles. Stanford’s mission? To make education the great equalizer, ensuring every child—no matter their background—gets the best start possible. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5a2b5b4129b4d636