Increased funding announced to help Wales' most disadvantaged pupils

The changes will aim to benefit children in nursery, reception and children in local authority care. Credit: PA

Over £90m is to be invested through the newly called Pupil Development Grant to help disadvantaged pupils in Welsh schools over the next financial year, the Welsh Government has announced.

Education Secretary Kirsty Williams says the changes to how the money used to support the most disadvantaged pupils in Wales will benefit those in nursery, reception and children in local authority care.

The Education Secretary has also revealed expansions to the programme, from the amount allocated to the youngest pupils, to extending the funding to pupils not educated at school, to providing more support to children who are looked after by their local authority.

Other changes include:

  • Doubling the grant to £600 per eligible child in nursery and reception classes.

  • Extending support to all three year old looked after children. The funding can also be used to support previously looked after children who have been adopted.

  • Extending the support to pupils whose education happens outside a school setting. Currently only those from pupil referral units received the support.

Education Secretary Kirsty Williams says there is still more to do. Credit: PA

The changes will come into affect in April.