Scientists prove poor kids face extra hurdles

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Scientists prove poor kids face extra hurdles

(Tuesday 23 December 2008)

by ADRIAN ROBERTS


SCIENTISTS warned on Tuesday that poor children are more likely to be admitted to intensive care and start school lagging behind than their rich counterparts.

The findings come from the largest national audit of admissions to paediatric intensive care in England and Wales, which was carried out by researchers from the University of Leeds and the University of Leicester.

And a study by researchers at Bristol University and Columbia University in New York found that, during their first few years, children from low-income backgrounds are more likely to be exposed to environments that do not encourage their cognitive development.
The health study analysed the details of more than 40,000 children admitted to 29 paediatric intensive care units over four years to 2007.
It revealed that around one in 1,000 children had been admitted to intensive care during that time, with those from the poorest fifth of the population more likely to be admitted than those from the most affluent fifth.
The education report analysed information on 19,000 children born in Britain in 2000 and similar data on about 10,000 children born in the US in 2001.
Both sets of children were followed from the age of nine months and took tests in literacy, language and mathematics at the ages of three, four and five. The results showed gaps in the children's cognitive readiness for school depending on their background.
Health Emergency spokesman Geoff Martin said that the study showed that it was "vital that the NHS remains free at the point of need and fully in the public sector."
Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Kate Green pointed out that nutritious food should be a right that all children should enjoy.
"It is disgraceful that entitlement to free school meals is constrained by criteria that do not reflect the complexities of poverty and ignore high levels of in-work poverty," she said.
"This is an issue that illustrates the low priority placed on children and families. Research, including that undertaken by CPAG as part of its 2 Skint 4 School campaign, shows that the poorest children continue to be excluded from educational services and activities that would enhance their ability to participate and enjoy school.
"In England, free school meals remain a poorly financed and often stigmatising service," she complained.
"The step change of moving towards a universal approach would ensure all poor children got a free meal, improving their health and well-being and readiness to learn and would show the value we place on our children," Ms Green added.

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