Local MP, Caroline Dinenage, is encouraging state schools within the Gosport Constituency to apply for funding from a £9 million pot to help reception-age children with their language skills.
Research shows that children who have poor language skills in early education are twice as likely to be unemployed as an adult.
This targeted funding, named the Nuffield Early Language Intervention, has been announced for schools to help reception-aged children improve their language and speaking skills that may have been effected by the pandemic. It is part of the £1 billion wider ‘catch up’ fund to tackle lost teaching time.
In particular, it will provide teachers with the resources and training to deliver one-to-one and small group support for five-year-olds.
Children’s Minister Vicky Ford said:
“Nurseries and other early years settings have played a huge part in keeping our youngest children safe and supported throughout the pandemic, but too many children have missed out on education at a crucial point in their development.
“Ahead of every pupil returning to the classroom full-time in September, we’re increasing the support available to get them back on track and ready to learn.
“We cannot afford for our youngest children to lose out, which is why this package of support is focused on improving early language skills for the Reception children who need it most, and especially those whose long-term outcomes who have been affected by time out of education.”
In addition, the Department for Education has confirmed that supplementary funding up to £23 million will be available for Maintained Nursery Schools, including The Haven in Bridgemary.
Caroline commented:
“I am really pleased to see that this funding boost will help our local children get the best start in life, especially those who have been impacted by school closures and the pandemic.
“I will be contacting local schools encouraging them to apply for funding so that children across the Gosport Constituency will see the benefits of this investment and help them develop their vocabulary skills for later life.”
