Scheme aimed at helping disadvantaged Fenland children receives another £1.43million of Government cash

The Government has given a further £1.43 million to help disadvantaged children in Fenland and East Cambridgeshire catch up with their peers.

Michelle Donelan, Minister for the Opportunity Areas, announced today (Friday) the Government was expanding Opportunity Areas for a fourth year and has given £1.43million to the Fenland And East Cambridgeshire area, which was launched in January 2017 after Fenland was ranked in the bottom five of the national Social Mobility Index.

Fenland was 319th out of 324 districts while East Cambridgeshire was slightly higher at 311th.

Since then the Opportunity Area initiative has helped reduce the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers in reading and speaking in their early years.

At Key Stage 2, more children are now achieving the expected standard in reading.

Support for children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities has been improved through direct support for parents and caregivers.

The Opportunity Area funding is delivering support for children with social, emotional and mental health concerns and there are now fewer teaching vacancies, particularly in primary schools - which was previously a major issue in Fenland.

The number of secondary schools now rated good or better for leadership and management by Ofsted has also climbed since 2017.

The Fenland and East Cambridgeshire Opportunity Area is one of 12 across the country and Ms Donelan explained the latest funding will also be used to help address the impact of the coronavirus, building on the success of the 12 areas by ‘twinning’ them with places facing similar challenges to help “unleash” the potential among young people in other parts of the country.

The fourth year of the flagship programme will raise the bar for young people boosting social mobility by raising educational outcomes and addressing inequality in skills and employment.

Within each allocation is a share of £1 million specifically to support the new ‘twinning’ work.

As part of the renewed focus for Year 4 of the programme, Minister Donelan will bring together ministers responsible for employment, youth services, public health, business and industry and policing to help chart a course to recovery from the pandemic and get Britain moving.

Tricia Pritchard, independent chairman of the Opportunity Area Partnership Board said: “I am delighted that the Opportunity Area programme has been extended for another year and that we, have been awarded a further £1.43m to further our work in improving the life chances of the children and young people in Fenland and East Cambridgeshire.

“We are acutely aware of the challenges facing schools, families and communities as a result of Covid-19 and therefore the announcement that the Minister has approved our plan for Year 4 of the programme is both timely and very good news.

“It is vital that we continue to build upon the networks and partnerships already established and we are committed to doing just that. At the same time, we shall be developing a strategy to sustain the momentum beyond the lifetime of the programme.”

During Year 4, this area’s priorities will be focused on: Improving outcomes in Early Years; Accelerating progress in schools; Recruitment and retention of school/Early Years staff; Social, Emotional and Mental Health; Working with partners to develop post-16 opportunities for progression