Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of child poverty on educational attainment.

The Department has evaluated the impact of poverty on educational outcomes. Evidence shows that disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs are more likely to fall behind and need extra support to reach their full potential. That is why the Department has a range of support in place to support pupils and schools.

Overall, core schools funding, including funding for both mainstream schools and high needs, is increasing by £4 billion in 2022/23 compared to the previous year. In 2022/23, the Department will be allocating approximately £2,000 per pupil, for all pupils who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years, through the National Funding Formula, the Pupil Premium and the 2022/23 School Supplementary Grant. The Pupil Premium enables schools to provide extra support for disadvantaged pupils to improve their academic and personal achievements.

Raising attainment for pupils is at the heart of this government’s agenda. Reforms to support schools and drive improved attainment were set out in the Schools White Paper. This includes the National Tutoring Programme, which is helping those pupils that need it access additional targeted support, including those who have been hardest hit by disruption to their education as a result of the pandemic. To support teachers, the Oak National Academy has been established as a public body, which will provide free, optional, adaptable digital curriculum resources, including in English and mathematics.

In addition, the Department is providing funding to 24 Priority Education Investment Areas (PEIA), helping drive the attainment of all children across the area. In each of the 24 PEIAs, the Department will offer further investment in addition to the significant support available to all EIAs. PEIAs will receive a share of around £40 million of funding to address local needs, and priority access to a number of other programmes offered by the Department.