The Government-commissioned research, led by the president of the British Medical Association, Sir Michael Marmot, found that on average, 44 per cent of all five-year-olds are not meeting national standards.
This rises to 58 per cent of children in the London Borough of Haringey, followed by 55 per cent in Brent, Newham and the county of Herefordshire. In Solihull in the West Midlands and Richmond upon Thames, 69 per cent of children are achieving a good level.
The authors say that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to begin primary school with personal, social and emotional development and language and literacy skills lower than their peers, because parents are less likely to read to them every day or to set regular bedtimes.
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