Getting ready for the Early Years Pupil Premium

Recent studies show that there is a 19 month gap in school readiness between the most and least advantaged children. The Early Years Pupil Premium has the potential to greatly reduce this inequality.

The introduction of the Early Years Pupil Premium for three and four year olds from April 2015 aims to support providers to bridge this gap with additional funding, approximately £300 for each eligible child.  It will be a system in which money follows the child from the new two year old free entitlement right through to the school-age Pupil Premium.  Early years providers have a key opportunity to maximise this additional funding to improve children’s outcomes and to boost disadvantaged children’s achievement.

The conference gave detailed information on how the Early Years Pupil Premium will work and the attendees had the opportunity to reflect and discuss how the additional money could be used to narrow the gap.  TAttendees were offered valuable opportunities to explore evidence and strategies to support children to flourish.

The conference addressed and debated:

• The why and how of the Early Years Pupil Premium – in detail policy
• The importance of the Early Years Pupil Premium and the opportunity to increase outcomes for children
• High quality intervention to improve children's outcomes

Speakers included:

• Rt Hon David Laws MP, Minister of State for Schools, Department for Education
• Senior representative from the Department of Education
• Professor Edward Melhuish, Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues, Birkbeck University of London
• Gill Jones, Deputy Director for Early Years, Ofsted
• Kevan Collins, Chief Executive, Education Endowment Foundation
• Ed Vainker, Principal, Reach Academy Feltham
• Jacqui Hardie, Early Years Independent Consultant
• Di Chilvers, Early Years Independent Consultant
• Kim Porter, Early Years Independent Consultant
• Nancy Stewart, Early Years Consultant
• Anne Longfield, Chief Executive, 4Children
• Sue Robb, Head of Early Years, 4Children

This conference helped early year’s providers and Local Authorities to gain detailed I information on this important new fund.  The conference brought together key leading experts in the world of early years, along with key senior figures offering an excellent opportunity to network, share learning, explore strategies and solutions.

Who attended:

• Head teachers
• Deputy Head teachers
• Teachers
• Early Years Educators and Co-ordinators
• Childminders
• Leaders and Managers of early years’ settings
• Academy Chain Directors with an interest in early years
• Children’s Centre managers and co-ordinators
• Heads of Early Years
• Independent Consultants
• Childcare Providers
• Health visitors and professionals
• Directors of Children’s Services