Child literacy given a boost with £50 million scheme
A large portion of the coalition's pupil premium money will go towards teaching children from deprived areas valuable literacy skills, it has emerged.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg announced that £50 million of the £625 million pupil premium budget will go on teaching those who would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive tutoring. He made the announcement at the Liberal Democrat conference this week in Birmingham.
The money will pay for two-week summer school courses where literacy skills will be taught along with other important educational skills.
Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said there is no question that early intervention with young people at risk is a positive step.
However, he also criticised the scheme and added: "It is difficult to see how a project of this kind can make any kind of sustainable difference or does more than place sticking plaster over a small part of the problem."
Pupils who can access this initiative will also be eligible for the pupil premium. They will be able to have school dinners and benefit most from the extra hours of teaching.
According to the Labour Party, the Lib Dems initially promised that they would invest £2.5 billion in a pupil premium as additional money going into the schools budget.
