CYP Now - Catch-up tutoring scheme has potential to tackle attainment gap, suggests research

The government’s National Tutoring Programme (NTP), to help pupils catch up on lost learning post-pandemic, could tackle the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers, new evidence suggests.

Almost a third of pupils from the worst-off households are taking up in-school tutoring, according to the Sutton Trust. Picture: Freedomz/Adobe Stock

The programme has come under criticism for not effectively supporting the most disadvantaged pupils. This includes concerns raised last month by the National Audit Office that despite government investment in the programme, disadvantaged primary school pupils are 3.23 months, on average, behind pupils from wealthier backgrounds.

But latest evidence from the Sutton Trust’s Covid Social Mobility and Opportunities Study has found that this tutoring in school is successfully involving children from low-income households.

It found that almost a third of pupils from the worst-off households are taking up in-school tutoring, compared to just over a fifth of the most well off.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included