Responding to the government's announcement of a more-than £2bn funding boost for early years education, including an increase in the early years pupil premium, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Investment in early years education can making a lasting difference to children’s life chances and is one of the best ways to close the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

“We welcome this new funding and have long called for the early years pupil premium to be increased because it is widely recognised that early intervention is essential when it comes to boosting pupil outcomes. It makes no sense for the early years premium to be only a fraction of the primary funding.”