Prematurely born children, who often lag behind their peers when they first enter school, can catch up by the time they leave primary education, new research shows.
A University of Bristol study which followed more than 12,500 children as they passed through the school system found that many made swifter progress than other students.
At all four key stage assessments, preterm children were more likely to score poorly but they improved more quickly, particularly between key stage 1 and 2, according to the research published in the British Medical Journal’s Archives of Diseases of Childhood.
“While we know that children born prematurely are more likely to struggle at school than their peers, we didn’t know what their capacity was to catch up over time,” said Dr David Odd, who led the research.
‘Don’t underestimate’ premature children
“Compared to their early tests at school, these perform better than would be expected so those managing support for them should not underestimate their capabilities and plan accordingly.”
Some 15 million babies, equivalent to more than one in 10, are born prematurely every year worldwide, according to the UN’s World Health Organisation.
In the UK, some 6 per cent of births happen at least four weeks before their due date.
Elizabeth Bond, head of fundraising at Southmead Hospital Charity, which sponsored the research, said the study provided “a valuable insight into long-term health and development outcomes and can shape the way children are supported as they grow”.
