What is the Early Years Pupil Premium?

The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) has one aim: to improve outcomes for socio-economically disadvantaged children from 9 months upwards. In April 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) increased funding for the EYPP by 45% to £570 per child per year.

A child’s family income shouldn’t be a barrier to their achievement and wellbeing in the early years. Early years settings (including childminders, nurseries and schools) can use this increased funding to help every child to flourish.

Why it matters

The early years lay the foundations for a child’s future.

High-quality early education and care not only support academic success but also lead to better health and employment outcomes later in life.

We know that the learning gap between socio-economically disadvantaged children and their peers is already 4.6 months, on average, by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The gap continues to widen throughout primary and secondary school.

The additional EYPP funding gives settings a valuable opportunity to narrow the learning gap in the early years through evidence-informed approaches including professional development programmes.

Early intervention – before these gaps grow – is crucial to ensuring every child gets a fair start.

That’s a cause to unite everyone in the early years.