£6.5m for projects that develop disadvantaged children’s early language skills

The DfE will be funding projects that help disadvantaged children or children with additional needs develop their early language and speech skills, by helping parents teach reading, writing and language skills at home.

Disadvantaged children and those with additional needs are more likely to struggle with language and literacy skills when they arrive at primary school, and help from parents can help.

Projects that can bid for the funding could include home visits from trained early years professionals, to help parents support their children in learning new words through simple steps like reading and singing nursery rhymes. Or they could involve easy-to-use online tools that help broaden the vocabulary parents use with their children in these early years.

Voluntary and community groups will also be able to bid for funding to work with disadvantaged communities to encourage families to access the Government’s early education offers for children under 5.

This announcement builds on the £13.5 million investment announced in April to improve early language and literacy for disadvantaged children.