Published alongside new Department for Education (DfE) guidance, the EEF Guide to the Early Years Pupil Premium resource is based on the best available evidence of what works to support socio-economically disadvantaged children.
Its launch coincides with a 45% increase in EYPP funding. From April, eligible early years settings in England will be able to claim up to £570 per child per year, providing a significant opportunity to invest in strategies – and sharpen focus – on improving learning outcomes for disadvantaged children.
Data shows that there is an average learning gap of 4.6 months between disadvantaged children and their peers by the time they start Key Stage 1 – a gap that continues to widen throughout primary and secondary school. The EEF’s new guidance is designed to help early years settings use the additional funding effectively, closing learning gaps and supporting every child to flourish.
To make the most of the increase in funding, the guide recommends settings take a balanced approach to spending, encouraging them to:
- · Develop quality practice. High-quality education and careHigh-quality education and care refers to the quality of educators’ day-to-day interactions that support children’s development and the care they experience. is important for all children, but the benefits for disadvantaged children are greater. Using EYPP to invest in effective professional development will help settings respond effectively to each child’s individual needs.
- Tailor personalised support. Some disadvantaged children will need additional support and teaching to make sure they make strong progress. This could include spending on targeted interventions, or robust assessment tools.
- Lead, plan and sustain. Meaningful engagement between leaders and their teams throughout the process is crucial for making changes to practice that will stick. Spending some of the EYPP to facilitate this is a worthwhile use of the funding. This could include setting aside time to collaborate with other settings or engaging with the support offer from Local Authorities and Stronger Practice Hubs.
The EEF is now calling on early years educators to explore their evidence-based resources and make full use of them in planning their Early Years Pupil Premium spending. To access them, visit https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/early-years/pupil-premium
Chris Paterson, co-CEO at the Education Endowment Foundation, said: