Nursery World - Public spending watchdog recommends Government review EYPP rates

The National Audit Office (NAO) has recommended the rates paid to settings under the early years pupil premium (EYPP) be reviewed, arguing that there is ‘no evidence to support a lower rate for early years’, compared to schools.

The NAO recommends the Government review the rates paid to providers to help them support disadvantaged children, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

The NAO’s new report highlights how the attainment gap is growing despite the Department for Education (DfE) spending around around £60 billion to provide support to all children across schools and early years settings. It says for 2023-24, this included an estimated £9.2 billion to support disadvantaged children and narrowing the attainment gap between them and their peers.

‘Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children’ argues that early years provision can support the attainment of disadvantaged children, but DfE spends ‘comparatively less’ on the EYPP and no analysis has been carried out to explain the funding differences between early years settings and schools.

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