The government's funding consultation launched today threatens to revolutionise funding for EAL and ethnic minority learners. The funding consultation is around the development of a national formula for funding pupils and schools and how local needs can be catered for within this.
The need for local flexibility was strongly voiced in the previous consultation. The government is considering the inclusion of a time-limited EAL factor within the national formula in addition to: the basic amount per pupil; additional funding for deprivation; additional funding to protect small schools; and an area cost adjustment. No funding is envisaged for ethnic minority learners at risk of underachievement, either in the national formula, nor in the proposed locally allowed adaptations.
The consultation contains the following suggestions for the national formula
English as an Additional Language and Underperforming Ethnic Groups
3.34. We have given careful consideration to the types of pupils who might need additional support to help them achieve, and who therefore require additional funding. The vast majority of underachieving pupils are from deprived families and so extra support is provided to them through our deprivation funding and the Pupil Premium.
3.35. We have undertaken some detailed analysis to help us to identify what further factors of underachievement there are at Key Stages 2 and 4. The evidence is clear that pupils who only have EAL or who are only from Under Performing Ethnic Groups (UPEG) achieve almost as well as pupils who do not have any additional needs. At Key Stage 2, 75% of both EAL and UPEG pupils achieved Level 4 in English and Maths compared with 77% for those without any additional needs. At Key Stage 4, 64% of pupils who only have EAL achieve at least 5 A*-Cs including English and Maths compared with 59% for non-EAL, non-FSM pupils. Pupils from Under Performing Ethnic Groups however achieve slightly less, with only 56% achieving the same grades.
3.36. It is clear from the evidence that of the three factors it is deprived children who do least well. We are therefore confident that a focus on additional funding for economic deprivation is the key priority.
3.37. However, pupils who cannot initially speak English often require some additional support until they become familiar with the language. But once they can speak English, they go on to achieve well. The majority of children in this situation are in the primary phase.
3.38. Therefore we are considering the adoption of an EAL factor in the national formula. However, because extra support is generally only required for a few years, we propose limiting the funding so that it covers the first few years when a pupil enters the school system, for instance the first three or five years. We will consult partners further on this.
Question 16: Do you agree that we should use an EAL factor in the national formula?
Question 17: Do you agree that this should cover the first few years only? How many years would be appropriate?
This news will be a blow to bilingual and ethnic minority pupils and their schools and teachers. The government has however noted that the current system for school funding will be continued at least until 2012-2013.
NALDIC will be responding to the consultation in full before the deadline of 11 October 2011 and welcomes members’ views on the issue. The full consultation can be found at DfE Funding Consultation
