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Early Years Pupil Premium and Refugee Children

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Studies show that there is a significant gap in attainment between the most and least advantaged children by the time they enter their Reception year. Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is additional funding intended for Early Years providers to address this inequality by narrowing the attainment gap through accelerated progress. It gives money to providers, so they can make sure eligible children have the best possible outcomes.

Providers can claim over £350 per year (currently 62p per hour for 15 universal hours)* for children who meet the eligibility criteria. EYPP is payable only on the universal 15 hours entitlement and not on the additional 15 hours entitlement for working parents. EYPP is not available for 2-year funded children.

EYPP can be used in any way that the provider chooses to help the child make more rapid progress or to remove barriers to learning or participation. It is most effective when key adults that know the child well, such as parents/carers and key person, work together to identify areas of need and what would support the child’s progress best.

Research indicates that effective use of EYPP could include:

  • focussed interventions to support learning and development.
  • broadening the child’s experiences (cultural capital).
  • investment in staff development.
  • improvements to the learning environment.
  • strategies to support parent partnership and develop the home learning environment.

Information and suggestions on how EYPP can be spent most effectively is available online and includes the North Somerset EYPP tools and information from national organisations

Ofsted inspectors will ask for evidence of the impact of EYPP funding on eligible children’s development as part of their inspection.

Who is eligible?

The child must be 3 or 4 years old and attend a childcare setting/school nursery class in North Somerset. You can check eligibility via the Funding Hub using the parent’s National Insurance number, date of birth and surname. We encourage providers to speak to parents to find out who is eligible for EYPP funding. In particular, the parents who took up the 15 hours funded entitlement for 2-year-olds for families receiving some additional forms of government support, as some of these children may attract EYPP when they turn 3. We suggest you collect this information on the parent declaration form when a child is registered with you.

Parents/carers who receive any of the following will qualify for EYPP

  • Income Support
  • Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
  • Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 
  • Child Tax Credit, providing you do not also receive Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
  • Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit – if a parent is entitled to Universal Credit they must have an annual net earned income equivalent to and not exceeding £7,400, assessed on up to 3 of the parents’, most recent Universal Credit assessment periods.
  • Three and four year old children that have been adopted, or who have left care through special guardianship or residence orders
  • Three and four year old children who are fostered in North Somerset.

*Nov 23

Refugee children

These resources are aimed at practitioners working in Early Years settings which have refugee and asylum seeking families and children. It is hoped that the information included will help  raise awareness of relevant issues and provide practical ideas for strategies and support.

North Somerset Nurture pack

https://www.famly.co//blog/refugee-children-early-education

How can early years education support refugee children?

Beacon House ‘Talking to children about war and conflict

UK Trauma Council ‘Improving outcomes for refugees and asylum-seeking children and young people’

University of East London ‘resources on refugee and asylum seeking children’

Refugee Trauma Amna website 

The National Literacy Trust has a page of resources and activity ideas for early years settings, including books for early years children to support teaching about refugees

  • The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
  • Lily and the Polar Bears by Jion Sheibani
  • My Name is Not Refugee by Kate Milner
  • Everybody's Welcome by Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Greg Abbott
  • The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Karin Littlewood

Advice for Ukrainian families on applying for a school place and accessing childcare in England

The government have published some advice on the Education Hub for Ukrainian families on applying for a school place and accessing childcare. The article is available in both English and Ukrainian and can be shared with staff and parents.

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