The attainment gap sees disadvantaged children, on average, perform less well than their peers, affecting their future life chances. Government has a strategic objective to narrow the gap. The Department for Education (DfE) defines 2.1 million, or 27%, of children in state-funded schools as disadvantaged, based on registered eligibility for free school meals, or if a child has been or is being looked after by the local authority.
In 2023, the Committee warned of a lost decade in education for disadvantaged children following the pandemic. Its Education Recovery in Schools report found that the prospects for a generation of children could be damaged without faster action from Government, and called for a plan setting out how the disadvantage gap would be reduced more quickly.
The National Audit Office’s (NAO) 2024 study on the topic looked at whether the DfE is achieving value for money on its attainment gap objective through its funding and support for children within schools and early years providers. It noted that recent data indicate the disadvantage gap is wider than before the pandemic, with disadvantaged children more negatively affected by schools closures and periods of home learning.
Based on the NAO’s work, the Committee will take evidence from senior DfE officials on topics including:
- progress on narrowing the gap;
- how well spending focused on disadvantaged children is working; and
- funding for the National Tutoring Programme.
Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere.
Please note that the Committee is unable to consider or assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to contact your constituency MP.
If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by 23:59 on Tuesday 31 December 2024.