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Reaching the Unseen Children

Practical Strategies for Closing Stubborn Attainment Gaps in Disadvantaged Groups

Jean Gross (Early Intervention Foundation, UK)

$398.95   $319.42

Hardback

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English
Routledge
17 September 2025
This new edition of the best-selling Reaching the Unseen Children provides a powerful and accessible resource for schools working to close the attainment gap between disadvantaged children, particularly white pupils from low-income backgrounds, and their peers.

It tackles head-on the issues currently confronting schools, with new content on early years and on attendance, reflecting deeply worrying data showing that almost two in five disadvantaged pupils were persistently absent in the last school year. Firmly located in the current educational policy context, it incorporates the latest science – on how we can develop oracy, for example, on new approaches to teaching reading, and on why belonging, school connectedness, and agency are emerging as critical to the success of disadvantaged learners. The second edition includes many new case studies from outstanding schools which have successfully drawn on and developed ideas from the first edition, making them their own.

Bringing together the latest data, research, and stories from schools that have made the difference to close the gap, Reaching the Unseen Children remains an essential guide for anyone working in education today who is seeking equity for all their pupils.
By:  
Imprint:   Routledge
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Edition:   2nd edition
Dimensions:   Height: 229mm,  Width: 152mm, 
Weight:   453g
ISBN:   9781032905181
ISBN 10:   1032905182
Pages:   326
Publication Date:  
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Introduction; 1 We need to talk about Jason; 2 Understanding the gaps: data, theories and research; 3 Myths and wrong turnings; 4 Getting it right in the early years; 5 The word gap; 6 The literacy gap; 7 The maths gap; 8 The seven secrets of self-efficacy; 9 Attendance, belonging and relationships; 10 No excuse for no excuses ?; 11 Secrets of successfully engaging all parents; Conclusion.

Jean Gross is a best-selling author and expert on children’s issues. She has led many national initiatives aimed at improving the life chances of all those who struggle to succeed in our education system. Formerly the government’s Communication Champion for children and young people, she was awarded a CBE for services to education in 2011. Her previous books with Routledge include Improving Wellbeing and Behaviour in Special Educational Needs (2024), Beating Bureaucracy in Schools 4th ed (2023) and Time to Talk 2nd ed (2018).

Reviews for Reaching the Unseen Children: Practical Strategies for Closing Stubborn Attainment Gaps in Disadvantaged Groups

""I cannot think of a more important topic than enabling children who may be unseen, to be seen. This is the job of teachers and leaders but sometimes we don’t always know how to make this possible and do it with impact. This book is practical, evidenced informed and balanced as well as being so clearly explained. If you don’t read this and feel equipped and energised to make a difference I would be surprised."" - Rachel Johnson, CEO PiXL ""Jean Gross’ book is a super super resource to help the system wide efforts to assuage disadvantage. It’s just great! Practical and evidence informed. Excellent case studies of schools addressing this on the ground."" - Marc Rowland, Pupil Premium expert and author ""An extraordinary book. It is both a call to arms and a helping hand to everyone in education who wants to address the disadvantage gap and make ‘Unseen Children’ seen, heard and supported to thrive."" - Alex Quigley, Author, Head of Content and Engagement at the Education Endowment Foundation ""This is an exceptional book and an essential read for school leaders, teachers, and educators who are short of time but face a long list of challenges. With bold thinking and hard-hitting questions—such as why so many white working-class boys are being let down—this book doesn’t just spark debate; it offers solutions. It is a practical book, underpinned with a comprehensive discussions of research evidence from early years onwards. Most importantly, it is a joy to read: thought-provoking, engaging and fizzing throughout with the energy and voices of children and young people."" - Dr Julian Grenier CBE, Senior Content and Engagement Manager – Early Years, The Education Endowment Foundation ""In this essential second edition, Jean Gross - defender of the disadvantaged - offers a raft of practical strategies for schools to ensure that every child - irrespective of their starting points, backgrounds, and additional or different needs - can participate fully in school life and achieve well for the future. In new and updated chapters, Gross explores: the importance of self-efficacy, sharing seven secrets for helping children to develop the locus of control; and parental engagement, advocating that school leaders walk a mile in parents' shoes and ask not what parents can do for school but what schools can do for parents. Gross writes in a fluent, accessible style, and intersperses data and research with frontline examples from schools she knows well. She is highly knowledgeable in her subject but, more than this, she exudes authenticity and an impressive passion for equity and fairness. Highly recommended."" - Matt Bromley, education author, journalist, and advisor


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