Supporting schools to maximise nursery and breakfast club funding

England's schools have further improvements to make before they reach the level of attainment achieved by top-performing nations, according to a new report.

Analysis from the Education Policy Institute in partnership with the University College London Institute of Education has looked at how well primary school pupils in England are performing compared to those in other countries, in order to provide a more accurate international benchmark.

It was shown that England compares well with other developed nations at primary-level maths, but trails behind the leading countries. To reach the top level of performance, 90 per cent of pupils would need to meet the government's expected standard in key stage 2 maths by the end of primary school, but in 2016, only 75 per cent of pupils met this standard.

This means that in order to reach a world-class benchmark, an additional 90,000 pupils would need to achieve the expected standard in England, but currently no local authorities are achieving this level.

It was also revealed that England has one of the largest gaps between its highest and lowest-performing students out of all developed nations, with the top pupils achieving a very high standard while others lag far behind.

Report authors Natalie Perera and Peter Sellen said: "The tail of low-performing pupils supports the case for targeted support for vulnerable pupils throughout the course of primary school and early-years education. If England is to be considered world-class at primary in maths, the performance of pupils at the bottom must be improved."

The report also indicated that the 12 government-designated Opportunity Areas, which are considered the most challenged areas of the country in terms of social mobility, are delivering varied levels of school performance, as well as noting that there are other similarly low-performing regions that might benefit from Opportunity Area classification.

List #1

Related jobs

Tutor

Salary

£25 - 35 per hour

Location free text

Bolton

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£20 - £29 per hour

£30 per hour and above

Sector

Tutor/Intervention

Location

Cumbria

Description

Are you experienced in delivering 1:1 or small group support? Are you passionate about helping pupils with additional needs reach their potential? Teaching Personnel is currently recruiting tutors to

Reference

tuition

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Manchester West SEN

Author

Manchester West SEN

More Info Shortlist

Site Supervisor

Salary

£13.75 - 14.75 per hour

Location free text

Lytham St Anne's

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

£10 - £19 per hour

Sector

Secondary

Location

Lancashire

Description

Site Supervisor – Secondary School (Lytham) Full-time | 8:00am – 4:00pm | Immediate StartWe are looking to appoint a reliable and proactive Site Supervisor to join our secondary school in Lytham. This

Reference

FY - Site Supervisor

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Lancashire Secondary

Author

Lancashire Secondary

More Info Shortlist

TA needed in Northampton Primary School

Salary

£89.38 - 95.00 per day

Location free text

Northamptonshire

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

Less than £100 per day

Sector

Teaching Assistant

Location

Northamptonshire

Description

Job Opportunity: Experienced Teaching Assistant (with Read Write Inc. Phonics Experience) Location: Northampton Primary School Hours: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday Start Date: ASAPA Primary Scho

Reference

TA in Northampton

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Northants & Counties Primary

Author

Northants & Counties Primary

More Info Shortlist

Secondary Supply Teacher

Salary

Paid To Scale

Location free text

Brighton

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£100 - £199 per day

Sector

Secondary

Location

Brighton

Description

About the Role We are looking for passionate and dedicated Secondary Supply Teachers to join our team. This is a fantastic opportunity for qualified teachers seeking flexible work, whether you are loo

Reference

ST Supply BN1

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Brighton Primary

Author

Brighton Primary

More Info Shortlist

Behaviour and Engagement Lead

Salary

£35k - 45k per year

Location free text

Thrapston

Job Type

Permanent

Salary

£100 - £199 per day

£200 - £299 per day

Sector

Other

Location

Northamptonshire

Description

Behaviour and Engagement Lead Locations-Thrapston Yearly salary -£35,000 - £45,000 Employment Term-Permanent Employment Type-Full Time Contracted Hours-8:30 till 17:00Teaching Personnel have a great o

Reference

progressBehavEngaele

Expiry Date

DD01YY

More Info Shortlist

Experience TA needed in Wellingborough

Salary

£89.38 - 95.00 per day

Location free text

Northamptonshire

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

Less than £100 per day

Sector

Teaching Assistant

Location

Northamptonshire

Description

Job Opportunity: Experienced Teaching Assistant Location: Primary School inWellingborough Hours: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday Start Date: As soon as all checks are complete and the candidate is

Reference

Experienced TA

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Northants & Counties Primary

Author

Northants & Counties Primary

More Info Shortlist

Tutor

Salary

£25 - 35 per hour

Location free text

Gateshead

Job Type

Flexible Working

Salary

£20 - £29 per hour

£30 per hour and above

Sector

Maths

Location

Gateshead

Description

LAC Tutor – GatesheadAre you passionate about helping vulnerable students achieve academic success? Would you like to support vulnerable children outside of mainstream settings? Have you got experienc

Reference

RT1809Gatesheadtutor

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

North East Tuition

Author

North East Tuition

More Info Shortlist

Teaching Assistant

Salary

£95 - 105 per day

Location free text

Northampton

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

Less than £100 per day

£100 - £199 per day

Sector

Teaching Assistant

Location

Northampton

Description

Are you passionate about motivate students who may find aspects of learning challenging? Do you want every student to be able to reach their full potential? then this could be the role for you,TP is l

Reference

23Northants

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Northants & Counties Secondary

Author

Northants & Counties Secondary

More Info Shortlist

SEN Teacher

Salary

£30k - 40k per year

Location free text

Northampton

Job Type

Permanent

Salary

£100 - £199 per day

£200 - £299 per day

Sector

Other

Location

Northampton

Description

SEN Teacher Location: Northampton Salary: £30,000 to £40,000 (Based on teaching experience) Plus valuable Benefits Full Time/PermanentTeaching Personnel are excited to have the opportunity to work wit

Reference

progressSENnortham12

Expiry Date

DD01YY

More Info Shortlist

Cover Supervisor

Salary

£13.75 - 15.00 per hour

Location free text

Darwen

Job Type

Full Time

Salary

£10 - £19 per hour

Sector

Cover Supervisor

Location

Darwen

Description

Cover Supervisor – Secondary Schools, Darwen Full-Time Role | Through Teaching PersonnelAre you looking to take your first steps into a career in education, or are you an experienced classroom practit

Reference

1809CSBB3

Expiry Date

DD01YY

Author

Lancashire Secondary

Author

Lancashire Secondary

More Info Shortlist

List #1

Teaching interview questions: what to expect and how to prepare

Teaser

Tips & Advice

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD09YY

Summary

Walking into a teaching interview can be nerve-wracking, even for experienced teachers. The secret? Preparation. Knowing what to expect, understanding the school, and thinking through your answer

Teaser

Teaching interviews can feel daunting, but the right preparation makes all the difference. From common questions to safeguarding, behaviour management, and career development, here’s how to prepare, what to expect, and how to make the best impression.

Teacher pay scales 2025–26: what you need to know

Teaser

Tips & Advice

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD09YY

Summary

Pay is always a big topic for teachers and school leaders, and with good reason. It affects career choices, retention, and how schools plan. With a 4% rise confirmed for the next academic term, 20

Teaser

Teacher pay scales for 2025–26 are changing, with a confirmed 4% rise across the board. From new starter salaries to leadership pay, discover what the updated scales mean for teachers, schools, and career planning.

Back To School: How To Set Up The Year For Success

Teaser

Education News

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD09YY

Summary

The start of a new academic year brings a mix of excitement and challenge. New timetables and faces are balanced with the realities of staffing, planning, and ensuring the school settles quickly i

Teaser

The start of term sets the tone for the whole year. From staff onboarding to curriculum planning and wellbeing, discover practical ways to prepare your school for success this September and beyond.

Inclusive classrooms start with Thrive-trained educators

Teaser

Tips & Advice

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD07YY

Summary

Schools are under pressure. Behaviour issues are rising, pupil needs are more complex, and staff are stretched. In 2024, 18.4% of children in England were reported to have some form of special edu

Teaser

Need skilled staff for today’s complex classrooms? Thrive-trained educators from Teaching Personnel are ready to reduce disruption and support every learner.

Thrive in every classroom: How CPD with impact can boost your career

Teaser

Tips & Advice

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD07YY

Summary

Today’s classroom is a busy, complex, and emotionally charged environment. Educators need to teach, support, manage behaviour, and connect with learners who may be carrying far more than their sch

Teaser

Struggling with behaviour or emotional needs in the classroom? Thrive CPD gives you practical tools to support every learner, especially those with SEND or SEMH.

The future of SEND support

Teaser

Education News

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD07YY

Summary

The future of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support in the UK is undergoing significant focus and reform. It’s a complicated landscape as the government considers tightening th

Teaser

With EHCP reform, funding investment, and workforce development on the horizon, the future of SEND support is changing fast. This blog breaks down what schools need to know, and how to prepare.

SEND

Overcoming SEND staffing challenges in schools

Teaser

Tips & Advice

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD07YY

Summary

In December 2024, the government announced new specialist places in mainstream schools to better support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Yet, staff shortages limit s

Teaser

SEND

Bridging the gap: Why SEND CPD matters for teachers

Teaser

Tips & Advice

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD06YY

Summary

Recent statistics highlight gaps in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) training and support for educators. The government wants more SEND pupils in mainstream schools. At the same t

Teaser

Are your staff prepared for the rising SEND needs in mainstream schools? Diagnoses are rising, but most teachers feel unprepared. Discover why high-quality SEND CPD is essential and how your school can upskill effectively without breaking the budget.

Pupils listening to teacher in classroom

Creating inclusive classrooms: strategies for success

Teaser

Tips & Advice

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD06YY

Summary

In 2024, the National Audit Office (NAO) highlighted the crisis in the SEND system, noting limited progress in making mainstream schools more inclusive. Without further investment and changes, t

Teaser

With the number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) rising, schools must take proactive steps to create inclusive learning environments. The National Audit Office (NAO) has highlighted the challenges in making mainstream schools more accessible, emphasising the urgent need for change. But while systemic improvements are necessary, educators can implement practical strategies today to support SEND pupils effectively.

How to navigate SEND funding for 2025-26

Teaser

Tips & Advice

Content Type

TP-Posts

Publish date

DD06YY

Summary

How to navigate SEND funding for 2025-26 As government funding for special education needs and disabilities (SEND) evolves, schools face critical challenges securing essential resources. Sch

Teaser

Struggling to make sense of SEND funding for 2025–26? Get clarity and strategy in our free SEND Funding Guide, packed with insights schools can use now.

Funding
SEND

New international study highlights shortfalls in primary attainment in English schools

Register with us
for work in schools across England & Wales

New international study highlights shortfalls in primary attainment in English schools

Register with usfor work in schools across England & Wales

Register with us
for work in schools across England & Wales