Dr Mojtaba Soltanlou, director of the Learning Brain Lab at UCL, presents his new findings on the drivers that best prepare children for school success, focusing on the early numeracy and literacy skills. The results show that children’s own developmental (cognitive, motor, attentional, and emotional) skills most strongly shape early learning outcomes and predict whether they are ready for school – far more than home factors or preschool quality.

The study draws from the national Thrive by Five Index 2024 data to explore three key influences: children’s developmental skills, the home environment, and preschool programme quality. School readiness is measured using the ELOM 4&5, which classifies children as either “on track” or “not on track” based on performance thresholds.