Coverage of the government's report on the future of the British film industry has largely overlooked a crucial proposal emanating from the review. One of the report's most important themes concerns fostering a love of film among children of all ages by making more films for them.

Easily missed among the panel's 51 specific recommendations is the suggestion that, in future, the BFI "supports the development of independent British films for children, their parents, and carers".

The inclusion of this point should be a cause of celebration. It results from years of campaigning by those who feel children are being both short-changed and conditioned to believe that the only good films come from Hollywood. But it also stems from pure common sense. Every other participation in art – from books to learning a musical instrument – relies on capturing them young.

The panel cannily buttresses the cultural case for this policy development with the kind of language that wins government support – and is in itself something of a rebuke to the arguably blinkered creative sector, which has shown itself perfectly capable of throwing up classic gems from Billy Elliott and Bend it Like Beckham to The Snowman.

The panel says there are sound commercial reasons for changing priorities, suggesting that British moviemakers are missing a business trick. In the month that saw the release of War Horse, their report points out that family films represented 14% of the major studio releases between 2006 and 2010, and 31% of resulting studio revenue. By comparison, children's and family films represent just 2% of British-made releases, and 8% of gross revenue.

The panel believes "there is significant growth potential in the UK for family film", pointing to our long established literary and storytelling heritage. It also points to the special care that needs to be lavished on UK animators, whose art involves a production cycle far more costly and time consuming than that of drama.

But are these simply fine words and aspirations? The Children's Media Foundation has reacted cautiously, noting that it's "a step forward, now we want to see some action". Yet there is cause for optimism. The panel has not gone so far as to recommend funding quotas for children and family films, but it has administered a big nudge. Furthermore, the recommendation meshes with the other major cultural policy proposal in the review: that film should become part of the school curriculum from an early age, the equal of books, theatre and music.

The panel wants the existing networks of film clubs, village halls and community cinemas to be supported and developed further, with digital screens. It points to the fact existing cinemas could use their down time more effectively by screening more British films, improving their overall 20% occupancy rate.

The BFI already has a deep commitment to film education. And if screenings and discussions of selected films are going to become part of the school year, there has to be a range of new films suitable for children of all ages – before they graduate to The InBetweeners.

There is an interesting example of what can be done close to our shores. I recently visited the Danish Film Institute (DFI), which has been studied by the BFI. Its ground floor in Copenhagen is partly given over to mini film sets, and parties of primary school children are invited in daily, to act and cut short films. They leave with DVDs. I saw their glee.

Upstairs, film educationists work preparing lists of suitable films for schools across Denmark, together with teaching notes and web support. This meshes with statutory funding for children's and family films, on which a quarter of public film funding allocated by the DFI is spent, with projects ranging from short half-hour cartoons for under-fives to moody relationship films for teens. Children regularly attend their local cinemas on free tickets during the school day. Danish documentaries, grouped by theme by the DFI, are available to pupils on broadband.

The review looks forward to a "a new unified offer for film education". I hope it is seized and built upon.