Pupil funding is flawed, study claims

Support in schools for children from ethnic minority groups is
lacking because of funding shortfalls, according to a new
study.

Each ethnic minority pupil is seen as having the same level of
need under the current system, so funding is insufficient when
children have problems, says the Association of Teachers and
Lecturers study.

The problem particularly affects  asylum-seeker and refugee
children, who often have complex needs.

The association is calling for the funding system to be reformed
to recognise that children may have multiple needs.

It also argues that the system needs to be more responsive to
pupils joining schools at different times throughout the school
year, a common situation for asylum-seeker and refugee
children.

• Diverse Futures, Equal Chances from: www.atl.org.uk