Commenting on a survey by Teacher Tapp for Teach First, showing that teachers believe catch-up funding should be weighted towards schools serving poorer areas, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“It’s only right that those children and young people who need the most support receive it. This report shines a spotlight on how the value of pupil premium funding for disadvantaged pupils has been eroded over a number years. Recent minor uplifts have not gone far enough in undoing those real-terms cuts. We fully support the calls for the value of pupil premium funding to be restored.

"We also fully support the recommendation that the early years pupil premium should be increased. It is widely agreed that early intervention is essential when it comes to having a positive long-term impact on pupil outcomes, it therefore makes no sense for the early years pupil premium to be only a fraction of the primary funding.”