Castle Point, Rebecca Harris, has welcomed new figures which show that thousands of children in Castle Point are set to share an extra £525,000 this year under the Coalition government’s new ‘pupil premium’. The pupil premium is a new policy promised by both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats before the general election last year. It is an extra lump sum of cash which follows every less advantaged child and is received by schools, allowing them to provide additional support such as one-to-one tuition or extra pastoral care.

The Government has announced that in the year from April 2011, the pupil premium will be worth £430 for every pupil on Free School Meals, £430 for every looked-after child, and £200 for every child who has a parent in the armed services. This means that in Castle Point this year 1,220 children overall will benefit from an extra £525,000.  

Rebecca Harris said “This is fantastic news for children in Castle Point. The pupil premium will provide targeted funding for those who need it most. This could mean extra one-to-one tuition or more pastoral support.’

‘I am delighted that even in these tough times, the Government is delivering a massive boost to the education and will help more of our youngsters get the best possible start in life. In the increasingly competitive modern world it is even more important that our young people get a good education and qualifications if they are going to get the well paid jobs they deserve. ’