Responding to a report from the
National Audit Office (NAO), examining whether the Department for
Education is achieving value for money through its funding to
support the attainment of disadvantaged children, Pepe Di'Iasio,
General Secretary of the Association of School and College
Leaders, said:
“The lack of progress made in closing the disadvantage gap is
incredibly disappointing and it is right for this to be
scrutinised. It's important to look carefully at the national
funding formula and pupil premium to ensure the levels of funding
are sufficient but also being used in a way that helps enable
every child and young person to succeed. They need to reflect the
varying levels of disadvantage across distinct communities in
different parts of the country and also consider the needs of
pupils living in persistent poverty.
“We agree with the need to work across government to tackle this
pressing issue and that there is an urgent need for a national,
cross-government child poverty strategy. We are pleased to see
that the new government has set up a child poverty unit in the
Cabinet Office, and also convened a taskforce on this issue. We
also support the recommendation to monitor whether schools are
able to fund tutoring following the end of the National Tutoring
Programme and to provide further support to schools if
necessary.”
