4. Do preterm babies catch up with their peers?

It is a common misconception that children born preterm who have developmental or learning difficulties in the early years will catch up with their peers over time. Research has shown that, on average, preterm children’s difficulties tend to persist throughout primary and secondary school and that, as a group, children born preterm are unlikely to catch up with their peers.

Select the images of the students opposite to find out how preterm birth can affect academic attainment across all stages of schooling.