Cash boost to help deprived children

Cash will help reduce link between poverty and poor education results

Schools across Wales will receive a share of more than £32million to help the least well-off pupils.

It's called the Pupil Deprivation Grant and will pass money directly to schools, based on the number of children eligible for free school meals.

It'll work out about £450 for every pupil who's eligible for free meals.

Schools have the flexibility on how to spend the extra pupil deprivation funding. They are being encouraged to think about literacy and numeracy in particular, how the progress of particular pupils can be better tracked and how voluntary statutory and community services can play their part as well as parents.

Each school will receive an allocation according to the number of pupils aged between 5 and 15 who are eligible for free school meals which will equate to an additional £450 per eligible pupil.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "This new money is a major boost for our schools and has one clear aim – to reduce the link between deprivation and educational attainment. The Welsh Government is taking practical action to deliver better educational opportunities for our most disadvantaged children.

"We will work closely with schools to make sure this grant makes a real difference to the life chances of those who need extra support. My government is deeply committed to making sure everyone, no matter what their background, can reach their full potential.

"We are helping deliver improvements for the lives of our children to create a fairer, more prosperous country.”

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