Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Early years provision is critical as attainment gap emerges and widens early
Conclusion
Research shows the value of early years provision in supporting the attainment of disadvantaged children. From the age of three, there is a gap in cognitive outcomes between disadvantaged children and their peers, and in 2018 the Education Policy Institute reported that, on average, disadvantaged children were 4.3 months behind their peers in the early years phase.42 The Department recognised the critical importance of intervening in the early years, with about 40% of the overall gap between disadvantaged 16–year–olds and their peers having already emerged by age five, and these differences continuing to widen as children move through the education system.43
Government Response Summary
The government will continue to evaluate the rollout of Family Hubs and Start for Life services and has increased the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) to up to £570 per eligible child per year, providing guidance to local authorities to ensure effective spending and working with EEF to monitor the impact of the uplift and explore barriers to take up.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2026 3.2 The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme will continue to evaluate the rollout of their services overall alongside the delivery of individual elements. Evaluations will continue to be commissioned and led by independent evaluation teams. 3.3 In December 2024 the department announced a 45% uplift to the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP), increasing the amount of EYPP to up to £570 per eligible child per year – additional support for the most disadvantaged children. The department is keen to ensure that EYPP spend is used effectively by providers to improve children’s outcomes. To this end the department has published guidance, for the first time, to support local authorities in ensuring spend is used effectively. The department has also worked with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to support the development and launch of practical, evidence-informed advice for early years setting leaders on maximising the use of EYPP in their context - Early Years Pupil Premium | EEF. 3.4 To expand the evidence base on EYPP the department will work with EEF to monitor the impact of the EYPP uplift who will commission an independent, comprehensive mixed- methods impact and process evaluation to explore the potential mechanisms linking EYPP uplift and supporting improved outcomes for disadvantaged children. 3.5 The department is, in parallel, engaging with a number of local authorities to explore barriers to take up.