Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 39
39
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 143
Scale up Pupil Premium Plus funding nationwide and mandate careers advice provision by local authorities.
Conclusion
The Department must scale up its programme of expanded Pupil Premium Plus funding to cover all areas of the country and ensure that, as a condition of receiving the funding, local authorities are providing young people with access to careers advice.
Government Response Summary
The Department has scaled up Pupil Premium Plus-style funding to £24 million for all local authorities from 2023–24, meeting the first part of the recommendation. However, it states that Virtual School Heads will have discretion over the funding's use and are only 'asked to consider' improving careers advice, rather than making it a mandatory condition.
Paragraph Reference:
143
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
151. The Department has made a total of £24 million available to extend post-16 Pupil Premium Plus-style funding in the financial years 2023–24 (£10m) and 2024–25 (£14m) to all local authorities. This extends the programme from 58 local authorities in 2022–23, giving all local authorities in England funding to support the educational outcomes of looked-after children and care leavers up to age 18, from 2023–24. 152. This funding will be managed by the local authority’s Virtual School Head (VSH). VSHs will have the discretion to use the funding as they see appropriate, aligning to needs identified in the child or young person’s Personal Education Plan (PEP). In making use of this funding, VSHs have been asked to consider how they could best support looked-after children and care leavers to enable them to have sustained involvement in education, employment, and training. 153. We have been clear that this funding can and should be used to improve careers advice, information, and guidance on apprenticeships–including VSH requests for support from the ASK programme which can deliver guidance sessions and bespoke content. VSHs have also been asked to consider how they can support young people who are particularly vulnerable, including those who are NEET or are at risk of becoming NEET.