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<p>The government is investing in developing the evidence base for ‘what works’ in
the early years. The government committed £8.5 million in the 2017 social mobility
action plan to conduct robust trials of early interventions to improve children’s
‘home learning environment’, and to evaluate interventions to improve outcomes through
improved practice in settings. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with
the Educational Endowment Foundation (EEF).</p><p>The EEF, and the Early Intervention
Foundation - which is also funded by the department – produce comprehensive and rigorous
information on the effectiveness of early interventions in the early years, as part
of the What Works Network: <a href="https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/early-years-toolkit/"
target="_blank">https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/early-years-toolkit/</a>,
and <a href="https://guidebook.eif.org.uk/" target="_blank">https://guidebook.eif.org.uk/</a>.</p><p>The
department monitors attainment and the gap between disadvantaged children (those in
receipt of free school meals) and their peers using the Early Years Foundation Stage
Profile. 71.5% of children achieved a good level of development in 2018, up from 51.7%
in 2013 (the longest period for which we have comparable data). The gap has narrowed
by 1.7 percentage points since 2013 (again, the longest period for which we have comparable
data).</p>
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