Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department are taking to extend access to pupil premium plus funding for adopted children who are (a) home educated, (b) educated at independent schools and (c) adopted from overseas.

The government recognises that children adopted from care can remain vulnerable and have high levels of need. Pupil Premium funding is only available to children attending state-funded schools or where a local authority is providing significant support for a child’s education. Where parents have decided to educate their children at home, they are only eligible for Pupil Premium if the local authority is providing such support. Similarly, pupil premium is available for pupils attending an independent school only where the local authority is paying all or part of the tuition fees. There are no plans to change this.

We have already extended support from Virtual School Heads and designated teachers to children adopted from outside England and Wales and are carefully considering other educational entitlements, including Pupil Premium Plus.