The research team found that peoples' reading and maths ability ages seven
were linked to their social class a full 35 years later.

People who had higher reading and maths skills as children ended up having
higher incomes, better housing, and better jobs in adulthood.

The figures suggest, for example, that going up one reading level at age seven
was associated with a £5,000 increase in income at age 42.

The long-term associations held even after the researchers took other common
factors into account.

Prof Bates said: "These findings imply that basic childhood skills,
independent of how smart you are, how long you stay in school, or the social
class you started off in, will be important throughout your life."

He believes that genes may play a role, saying: "Genes underlie many of the
differences among children on all the variables we've looked at here.

"The genetically-controlled study using twins that we're conducting now should
allow us to separate out genetic and environmental effects."

The researchers hope that the twin study will illuminate the extent to which
environmental interventions might strengthen the links they've identified in
their current research.

Their findings were published in the journal Psychological Science.

Edited at Telegraph.co.uk by Richard Holt