Funding boost for children

UP to 1,078 children from low-income families in Oldham are to benefit from a £50 million fund.

The Early Years Pupil Premium is designed to stop poorer three and four-year-olds from falling behind before they have even started school.

Oldham will get £310,558, which will be given to nurseries to allow them to boost their educational provisions. Throughout Greater Manchester more than 11,400 children could be helped by the fund.

Nurseries will have freedom to decide how to use the money, perhaps by employing more qualified staff or specialists in activities such as speech and language.