Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “NAHT has long-campaigned for better access to ongoing professional development for teachers and leaders at all stages of their careers. It is regrettable that funding for five of six of the NPQs are restricted only to teachers and leaders working in a school that is within the top 30th percentile for pupils receiving the Pupil Premium. The number of NPQs that can be delivered next year is severely constrained by the number of providers approved to deliver them. Government need to take a more permissive approach to encourage other high quality providers into the  market, and ensure that schools have the funding to match, to reach far more teachers and leaders.”