An analysis of three studies on the economic impact of pre-school education has concluded that they are likely to have exaggerated its long-term benefits.
The review, by London university’s institute of education, said the widely-cited statistic of pound;1 spent on nursery education bringing pound;7 of benefits in adulthood, was misleading outside its original American context. But it confirmed good early education had a positive effect on schooling, cut the risk of involvement in crime and yielded economic benefits. The report, Long-term economic impact of centre-based early childhood interventions, is on the web at http:eppi.ioe.ac.uk
