According to one influential piece of research, disadvantaged children hear 30 million fewer words than their peers. Early years expert James Hempsall explores efforts to address the language gap.
With funds lacking to meet families' expectations of special educational needs and disability services, parents and practitioners have pursued education, health and care plans to obtain support, worsening the cash crisis.
The government has a goal to create at least three million apprenticeships by 2020, with many of these placements being targeted at vulnerable and disadvantaged groups of young people, writes Derren Hayes.
As part of a wider drive to improve the status of vocational training, successive governments in recent years have developed policies to boost the number and quality of apprenticeship places.
The gap between disadvantaged children and better-off peers is narrowing slowly, but policymakers are developing innovative programmes to boost the academic achievement of those struggling at school.
Ofsted has found evidence that a significant minority of schools are finding ways to manage more challenging pupils out. New tools will make it easier to identify this practice, says Jo Stephenson.
Amid increasing funding pressures and demand, councils are working to deliver comprehensive health, care and education support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Following the launch of the government's Careers Strategy earlier this year, there are a raft of new requirements for providing careers advice and guidance that schools must meet from September.
An education select committee report concludes a factor in rising levels of school exclusions is that vulnerable pupils are not getting the support they need. The government is being urged to back inclusive school policies.
Richard Oldershaw, team leader with the Child Law Advice Service, examines the new guidance and funding to promote educational attainment for looked-after children and those who have left care.
From September 2019 relationships and sex education (RSE) will be a statutory requirement for all schools in England. Young people and adults share their experiences and hopes for a new curriculum.