Welsh Government Grants Information
Pupil Development Grant
Pupil Development Grant 2023-2024
Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment is at the heart of our national mission in education. The Pupil Development Grant (PDG) has a key part to play in achieving this and we must build upon existing effective practice by ensuring that we target the funding as well as possible.
As you are aware, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language set out his vision in his High Standards and Aspirations for All keynote speech for the Bevan Foundation in June 2022. In the speech, he highlighted the importance of the following key areas:
- High Quality Learning and Teaching
- Community Focused Schools
- Early childhood play, learning and care (ECPLC) (previously Early Childhood Education and Care)
- Health and Well-being of Children and Young People
- Developing high aspirations through strong relationships
- The Curriculum for Wales and Qualifications
- Leadership
- Supporting post-16 progression
The Minister also updated the Senedd in March 2023 on the new High Standards and Aspirations for All roadmap which sets out the collective action we are taking in education. He has emphasised how every action must be examined through the lens of tackling the impact of poverty on educational outcomes.
The use of the PDG should be focused upon the above key areas, particularly High Quality Learning and Teaching, and Community Focused Schools, which evidence suggests are of the greatest importance especially as schools navigate the new curriculum.
To inform the use of the PDG in supporting these elements, guidance specific to the Welsh context has now been produced for schools on the most robust, evidence-informed approaches that they should consider using. This is now available on the Welsh Government website, and was shared with all headteachers in Wales on 26 May: www.gov.wales/guide-pupil-development-grant-html.
