The 'Young Lives' research project has sparked considerable interest because of its wide coverage that arches over three continents, as well as its time span of fifteen years. Given the anticipation about the potential findings of such longitudinal research, reports such as this working paper that provide early analyses from the investigations so far are very welcome.

I am happy to note that the working paper challenges some current endorsements about early childhood programmes that appear simplistic and uncritical in their claims that these programmes can ameliorate poverty and disparity both at the national level and in individual children's lives. The paper asks that such grand claims be matched by 'policies and programmes that have capacity to deliver on those claims, especially for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children' (p. viii). The paper also identifies specific issues that must be addressed in order to validate the claims.