We are so used to the UK coming near the bottom of any international league table on social policy and outcomes that it is a surprise to see that before the financial crisis, child poverty in the UK - by the OECD's definition of living in a household with less than half the media income - fell by more than in any other OECD country, from 17.4 per cent to 10.5 per cent.
The decade of 1995-2005 saw the Labour government's investment result in the third-highest rise in average family incomes, with spending on early years rising substantially from 2003 to 2007.
Unfortunately, this progress is now at risk, the OECD warns, as spending cuts, benefit freezes and high childcare costs take their toll. Child poverty reduction has stalled and it is now predicted to increase.
Childcare costs in the UK are a major problem, making it almost impossible for some parents to take up work opportunities. Over two-thirds of a UK second earner's income is effectively taxed away after childcare costs.
There are various ways of tackling this situation, through demand-side or supply-side supplements and subsidies.
But it would seem that this is not a direction in which the UK is likely to be heading.
Nursery Equipment
You'll find the latest issue of our Nursery Equipment supplement with this week's Nursery World. In keeping with the EYFS review, its theme is personal, social and emotional development. We hope you enjoy it!