Calls to roll out family intervention programme

Children were better prepared for starting school and parents made wiser use of the health service as a result of a family intervention programme trialled in a disadvantaged part of Dublin — leading to calls for it to be rolled out elsewhere.

An analysis of the benefits of Preparing For Life found that when it came to school readiness, children in the programme were more likely to be ready for school, ready to learn, less hyperactive and inattentive, more emotionally mature and socially competent, and more likely to be on track in their ability to do basic maths.

Particular gains were identified in numeracy, with 62% of the intervention children considered on track at maths compared to 44% among the control group.