Funding for children across North Lincolnshire is to be increased by almost £13m – with a massive £6m Government cash boost for childminding and nurseries.
The minimum funding per pupil for schools in North Lincolnshire will be raised; primary pupil funding is to rise from £4,405 to £4,610 and secondary school funding will rise from £5,715 to £5,995.
On top of this, and in a game changing boost to families, the Government has expanded its free childcare support scheme, with working parents of all children over the age of nine months entitled to 30 hours of childcare by September 2025.
From April this year, working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare before this is extended in September to all children from the age of nine months.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “There is no greater investment we can make than in children and their future.
“With Government support we are building a more prosperous future for North Lincolnshire, powered by high-paid jobs and an excellent education offer, which is essential in enabling our young people to take full advantage of these opportunities.
“This extra Government cash will go direct to our schools and early years providers, enabling them to further help our young people reach their full potential and live their best life.”
Funding has also been increased for youngsters with special educational needs and disabilities.
News of the year-on-year increase in school and early years funding follows the opening of Tree Tops, North Lincolnshire’s £6m complex care campus, the first in the area to offer short-breaks alongside supporting life limiting and palliative care needs of families.
Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children and families, said: “We have so many brilliant schools in North Lincolnshire and I know school leaders share our ambition to go even further and deliver the best possible outcomes for young people. We will be able to further improve outcomes now.
“It is also really pleasing to see disability access funding increase, this will help early years education providers put the specialist support in place that I know makes such a huge difference to children and families with additional needs.”
