Accessing the Early Years Pupil Premium isn’t about ticking boxes. Rather, it relies on a respectful, trusting relationships between the setting and the family.
Though the provider applies for the EYPP, they need to encourage the family to share details of their financial circumstances to ensure the child receives the support they need. For new parents, sharing this personal information can feel intimidating or embarrassing.
Settings need to manage this sensitively. It’s important to consider, for instance, which member of staff the family feels most comfortable with, where the best place is to meet, and any other factors that support open and confidential conversations.
Explaining the funding is key
The first thing the families need to be clear about is how the EYPP works.
Each eligible family needs to know:
- that the funding is there to benefit their child
- it provides resources for additional support that their child may need
- how you use the funding - give specific examples
- it’s a right, not a charity - it helps all children get a fairer start
- early intervention makes a big difference to the child early years and future
Fliss Dewsbery clarifies in her blog for the EEF, ‘The EYPP isn’t just a funding stream: it’s a mechanism to support equity. And working in partnership with parents is essential to making sure it reaches the children who need it.
The EYPP exists for children who need it, so it is in the interests of the family and the setting that they access it. Nurturing a positive relationship with each family will always reap benefits for the child.
Question for reflection:
- How will you engage with a more ‘difficult to reach’ parent?
- Think about how you use the EYPP with 3 children – do you think it is being used to each child’s best advantage?