Rates of pupil premium funding paid to schools to support disadvantaged children will rise by less than 2 per cent next April, the Department for Education has said.
In guidance published this week, the government revealed pupil premium funding rates for the 2024-25 financial year.
The rise of between 1.4 and 1.7 per cent is far below the current rate of inflation, which stands at 3.9 per cent. It follows a rise of 5 per cent for the current financial year.
Overall per-pupil funding is due to rise by just 1.9 per cent in 2024.
Schools and councils receive pupil premium funding for every pupil who has been eligible for free school meals at some point in the last six years.
