Calls for early years pupil premium to match primary schools' rate

Teach First, the charity making the call, estimates aligning the pupil premium for early years settings to the primary school rate would cost £130 million a year.

It comes after a survey, commissioned by the charity, of over 7,000 teachers via the Teacher Tapp app revealed more than seven in ten working in primary schools believe that compared to previous years, pupils entering Reception are less prepared to succeed in school cognitively, socially and emotionally.

Within its new report, Teach First argues that by paying the same rate for the pupil premium across early years and schools, teachers will be able to provide targeted support to those who need it the most, which will help to level up the country by ensuring every child starts primary school on an equal footing.

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of all teachers want the Government to invest in all schools but weight additional funding towards schools serving disadvantaged communities. The figure rises to 87 per cent when hearing from teachers in the most deprived schools.
• More than two-thirds of teachers at state-funded schools believe increased pupil premium would help their school secure better educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

The charity is also calling for the Government to restore pupil premium rates to 2015-16 ‘real-term’ levels for primary and secondary school pupils, at an estimated cost of £264m. It also wants a new pupil premium subcategory to be created for ‘persistently disadvantaged’ pupils who have been eligible for free school meals for 80 per cent or more of their school life. Teach First estimates the latter would cost £460m.

'Unless we act quickly, widened inequality will be built in for generations to come'

Russell Hobby, chief executive of Teach First, said, ‘Inequality remains a significant feature of our education system disadvantaged pupils simply do not get the same opportunity to succeed as their wealthier peers. This has been the case for many year, but it has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Unless we act quickly to repair the damage, widened inequality will be built in for generations to come. 

‘We can’t level up our country until we level up our education system. We believe our proposals to increase and expand the pupil premium would make a lasting impact on the futures of millions of young people, giving targeted support to ensure we can give them the best possible chance to succeed.’

Anna Hennell James, chief executive of the Orwell Multi Academy Trust, based within Suffolk, added,  ‘All of the primary schools within our Multi Academy Trust have a real mix of deprivation, with some facing significant levels. The pupil premium funding is vital for us, and we know how important this support is. The earlier you can address the challenges those children face, the more time you have to make a difference.

‘Creating a new ‘persistently disadvantaged’ Pupil Premium subcategory and increasing the rate they receive would support a more nuanced approach to support for pupils, rather than a one size fits all model.’A Department for Education spokesperson said, ‘Schools receive pupil premium funding to support disadvantaged pupils, which is increasing to more than £2.6 billion in 2022-23 - the highest cash terms rate since this funding began.

‘We have also identified 55 new Education Investment Areas to receive targeted support where educational outcomes are weakest, helping children from all backgrounds succeed at the very highest levels.

‘We are levelling up school funding, giving significant increases to every pupil in every school, and are helping pupils make up for learning lost during the pandemic through our ambitious recovery plan.

‘Backed by £5 billion, we are rolling out high-quality tutoring, world-class training for teachers and early years practitioners, additional funding for schools, and extending time in colleges by 40 hours a year.’

The National Education Union backed the calls from Teach First and said ‘much more’ needed to be done by Government to ensure every child has the education they deserve.

Joint general secretary Mary Bousted explained, ‘The pandemic has done terrible damage to education, but even before COVID, the Government’s cuts have set back the life chances of the next generation. Class sizes are at record levels – primary classes are the largest this century; secondary classes are the largest since records began in 1978 and almost a million children are being taught in classes with more than 30 children. There needs to be much more done by Government to ensure every child has the education they deserve.’