Introduction

First published in 1988, this work reports on a major British study of children’s progress and behaviour in 33 infant schools. The research looks at children from nursery through to junior school and asks why some children had higher attainments and made more progress than others. Using observations not only in schools but also interviews with children and parents, the children’s skills on entering school were found to have an important effect on progress. In each school, black and white children, and girls and boys were studied, in order gauge whether gender or ethnicity were related to progress.