A series of programmes to help disadvantaged pupils boost their
maths and literacy skills will be delivered from January.
Over £10 million of funding will go to programmes identified by
the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to help disadvantaged
pupils catch up, as part of the government’s Accelerator Fund,
the Schools Minister, , has announced today (15th
December).
The fund, originally announced in February and worth a total of
£22m, aims to scale up and spread effective teaching practice to
ensure pupils have the best chance of catching up following the
pandemic. Just under half (£10m) of this funding has already
been used to focus on English and Maths catch-up sessions.
The other half, confirmed today, will prioritise three regions
that have experienced significant learning loss according to
research commissioned by the department - the North of England,
East Midlands & Humber, and West Midlands.
Schools Minister said:
Strong maths and literacy skills are fundamental in unlocking
young people’s futures, setting them up for later stages of
education, training and the world of work.
This work with the EEF will provide focused support to those most
in need, complementing our already ambitious recovery programme
including high quality tutoring and world class teacher training,
helping to ensure no child is left behind from the pandemic.
Professor Becky Francis, Chief Executive of the Education
Endowment Foundation, said:
We know teachers and school leaders are keen to engage with
evidence and implement practices that are supported by the wider
research base for the benefit of their pupils.
This is a hugely exciting opportunity for us build on the
foundations we have laid together, and further ingrain evidence
use in English classrooms.
In the long-term this initiative will broaden schools’ access to
programmes with the potential to make a real, positive difference
to pupils’ attainment.
The Accelerator Fund is part of the Government’s wider ambitious
education recovery plan worth nearly £5bn. The plan continues to
roll out across the country, with investment in 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 for pupils/students.
The EEF will support a number of programmes for schools in these
three regions, particularly those showing the most promise in
increasing student attainment. The EEF will also ensure
programmes are ready to be accessible at a larger scale, whilst
maintaining their high quality and impact.
Detail around the projects will be announced in the new year.
