CYP Now - Third of Covid education spending 'to come from existing budgets'

Around a third of the government’s Covid spending on education is not additional money but is instead likely to be funded through existing budgets and underspending, according to new research.

The Treasury has only pledged £3bn to education spending. Picture: Adobe Stock

Ministers have committed to spend £4.3bn on education in response to the pandemic but research claims that 30 per cent is likely to be from existing sources of funding.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) research analyses additional government spending commitments to help nurseries, schools and training providers support young people and children to recover from the pandemic.

This includes £1.7bn on catch up funding for schools as well as £280m on early years and family support. A further £370m has been promised to the higher education sector.

However, the IFS says that the Department for Education is due to receive only £3bn from the Treasury, leaving a funding gap of £1.3bn, which is set to be covered through existing funding.

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