Nearly two fifths of young children in Hounslow are failing to meet expected standards, according to new research.

A total of 1,428 five-year-olds in the borough - 42% of the population - are behind the expected stage of development educationally, physically or emotionally, figures highlighted by London mayoral hopeful Tessa Jowell show.

The former Labour MP said the "shocking" statistics showed too many children were starting out on a path to "a lifetime of inequality and denied opportunity".

But Hounslow Council claimed the impressive key stage 1 and 2 grades for its primary school children suggested they were getting the "best possible start in life".

Across London, nearly 40,000 five-year-olds are failing to make the grade expected by the the Government's Early Years Foundation Stage framework, Ms Jowell's statistics show.

In Hillingdon, 48% of children are falling short, the highest proportion of any London borough.

There are 14 boroughs where at least two fifths of children are falling short in at least one of the five disciplines being assessed: communication and language; physical development; personal, social and emotional development; literacy; and maths.

Literacy was the biggest stumbling block for the capital's youngsters, with 32% missing the mark in that discipline, closely followed by maths (26%).

The figures were compiled by the House of Commons Library for Ms Jowell, who is one of six politicians in the running to be named Labour candidate for next year's London mayoral election.

'Denied opportunity'

She says more support is needed for very young children and has promised to restore the Sure Start initiative in London should she be elected, providing £61m a year to support early development, particularly for those families most in need.

"We should all be shocked and galvanised to action by these figures which tell a story of so many children beginning on a path that will take them to a lifetime of inequality and denied opportunity," she said.

"What is even more shocking is that this waste of potential can be prevented by support for very young families and children in the first 1,000 days of their life to ensure that when they get to school they are ready for school and ready to learn.

"That’s why if I become Mayor of London I will act immediately to restore Sure Start to its founding purpose and ensure that every child has every chance."

Councillor Tom Bruce, Hounslow Council's cabinet member for education and children's services, said: "I'm clear this council will deliver on its promise to provide children with the best possible start in life and raise aspirations.

"We have a strong focus on early years learning and a good track record in raising children’s development and attainment, with rapid progress often being made from a low starting point. All of this is against a backdrop of difficulties caused by unprecedented cuts in this area to government funding."

He added that all three and four-year-olds in the borough were offered a place in an early years setting, like a pre-school play group or day nursery, with 90% of local providers rated 'good' or 'outstanding' by Ofsted.

He also said there were a number of programmes helping young children become effective learners, like Let's Talk Together, which focuses on their language skills, and said the borough's Key Stage 1 and 2 results, which are both above the London and national averages, showed children were succeeding.

However, he said he would still be lobbying the next mayor of London to increase early years funding to help further narrow the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged.