Labour pledges to increase Early Years Pupil Premium
By Rachel Lawler
The Labour Party has pledged to increase Early Years Pupil Premium to match the funding rate provided to primary schools as part of wider proposals to support education after the coronavirus pandemic.
The Children鈥檚 Recovery Plan outlines a range of measures including breakfast clubs, more activity clubs, mental heath support in schools, extended free school meals and training for teachers with a total proposed spend of 拢14.7bn
For the early years, Labour has proposed a 拢110m investment into an 'Early Years Recovery Premium'. This would see the current Early Years Pupil Premium boosted to match primary Pupil Premium levels 鈥 increasing from 拢302 to 拢1345 per child.
Future investment
Kate Green, shadow education secretary, commented: 鈥淟abour鈥檚 innovative plans, informed by parents, teachers and children, will deliver not just a world-class education for all based on play and social development, but fulfilled and confident young people. We must match the ambition children have for their own futures and put them at the heart of our national recovery. This is an investment that our children鈥檚 futures and the future of our country depends on.鈥
1% of spending plans
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said: "While it is positive that Labour's post-Covid education proposal emphasises the importance of giving children opportunities to play and socialise, and supporting their mental health, it is disappointing that, much like the government's own recovery plans, there is so little focus on the early years.