North East Mayor Kim McGuinness today announced a £5 million new initiative to give children the best start in life by funding extra classes and support for teachers.
Hundreds of schools will receive support to put on extra-curricular activities, boost children’s reading, writing and maths skills and help train and retain the best teachers.
The funding, approved by the North East Combined Authority Cabinet, forms part of the Mayor’s Child Poverty action plan to intervene early to give young people in the region new opportunity.
The Mayor recently visited schools in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Peterlee, benefitting from the Launchpad for Literacy scheme, which supports children in their early years with their reading skills and to develop a love of reading for pleasure.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I am making sure we take action to give our children the best start in life with real new funding. We need to start early and think big.
“I’ve seen first-hand the incredible job work teachers and schools are doing, not just to educate our young people, but go the extra mile to support their life chances. Austerity, the pandemic and increasing workloads have put enormous strain on teachers. Schools and teachers are on the frontline of our fight against child poverty, and we will back them so the North East becomes the home of real opportunity.”
Rates of disadvantage have increased significantly since 2019, and already stretched services that support students and young people are working at capacity. While GCSE results in the North East are improving, the region’s young people from disadvantaged backgrounds start and leave school behind their peers.
The gap has increased at all stages of education, with children from disadvantaged backgrounds 4.8 months behind their peers before starting school; and leave school 18 months behind their peers.
By taking action to support children’s development, the Mayor and Combined Authority are putting in the foundations for the region’s economy to grow, with young people leaving school with the skills they need to thrive and fulfil their potential.
Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council and Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and Skills at the North East Combined Authority, said: “By supporting schools and investing in extracurricular programs, we create opportunities for children to develop essential skills, build self-confidence, and foster a sense of community.
“These initiatives not only boost academic performance but also offer a safe and nurturing environment where children can explore their interests and talents. Empowering children through education and after-school activities helps paves the way for a brighter future, breaking the cycle of poverty and helping them to reach their full potential.”
The funding will help expand programmes such as Voice North East, which aims to improve knowledge and confidence around speaking and listening for over 60,000 pupils, and the North East Festival of Languages, which has helped 80,000 children take part in activity to learn foreign languages.
Support has been provided to programmes such as MELVA, delivered in partnership with Northumberland based creative learning charity, Mortal Fools, which has supported 14,000 pupils with their mental health.
Jane Dube, Head Teacher of Hawthorn Primary School in Newcastle, said: “MELVA has been an amazing resource. The training and support for staff has been great. The online resources are fantastic and the children engage so well with them. It really supports the children to reflect and think about others as well as their own mental health and wellbeing.”