Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
The success of the National Tutoring Programme will depend on the quality of provision and...
Recommendation
The success of the National Tutoring Programme will depend on the quality of provision and whether it reaches the disadvantaged children who need it most. Previous evaluations by the Education Endowment Foundation indicate that tutoring programmes are effective in supporting children’s learning. However, the Department recognises that the tutoring market is under-developed, and there have been issues with quality and access in the past. As well as supporting disadvantaged children to catch up on lost learning, the Department intends that the National Tutoring Programme schemes will improve quality and grow capacity in the tutoring market. It expects that the ‘tuition partners’ scheme will reach between 200,000 and 250,000 children in 2020/21, and that tutoring will become an integral part of the education system. However, at February 2021, only 44% of children receiving tuition were eligible for pupil premium funding, raising questions over whether the scheme will reach the children who need it most. Also at February 2021, demand for the ‘academic mentors’ scheme had outstripped supply, with more than 600 schools who had requested a mentor not having access to one. Recommendation: The Department should set out how it intends to gain assurance on the quantity and quality of tutoring and mentoring provided under the National Tutoring Programme. Its response should cover in particular how it intends to ensure there is adequate tutoring and mentoring provision in areas of the country where educational attainment is lower. 8 COVID-19: Support for children’s education 1 The Department for Education’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: July 2022 6.2 The department is increasing access to high-quality tuition based on evidence that shows tuition can boost catch up learning by up to five months. 6.3 The National Tutoring Programme (NTP), will continue in academic year 2021-22 with an increased reach, to provide additional, targeted tuition for pupils who have been hardest hit from disruption to their education. 6.4 In academic year 2020-21 the department monitored regional spread to ensure there is good provision across England. There is extensive communications and engagement with schools to ensure that as many as possible sign up for the programme. The department continuously monitors take up and engagement amongst schools to consider where it may need to boost demand. In regions with lower take-up it increased engagement via target Local Authorities and Multi-Academy Trusts. 6.5 For 2021-22, the provider has operational targets to ensure minimum reach and focus on areas of low reach and attainment. The department will closely monitor performance against targets under the terms of the contract 6.6 Quality of tuition remains at the very core of NTP for 2021-22. The provider is responsible for appointing Tuition Partners and Academic Mentors according to rigorous quality criteria. The department will hold the provider to account for maintaining the quality of the tutoring through regular reporting and monitoring. In addition, evaluations are being conducted for both year 1 and year 2 of the NTP. The department will have results before the end of the programme.