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<p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all pupils, regardless of ethnicity,
background or location, are able to achieve their full potential in education. This
includes those pupils who are classed as having English as an additional language
(EAL).</p><p> </p><p>It is essential that all pupils are proficient in written and
spoken English so that they can access the curriculum effectively and engage fully
with school. To help schools develop the English language skills of their EAL pupils,
rather than implementing a limited number of area-based programmes we have given all
local authorities in England the ability to allocate funding to schools for their
EAL pupils. In 2016-17, 136 local authorities used the EAL factor in their school
funding formulae, spending £282 million in total. Furthermore, we have proposed that
the national funding formula for schools, which will replace local funding formulae
from 2018-19 onwards, will include an EAL factor.</p><p> </p><p>Schools may also use
their pupil premium funding to support disadvantaged pupils with EAL.</p><p> </p><p>At
the same time, we do recognise that in some areas of England schools face entrenched
challenges in raising the educational performance of their pupils. That is why we
are designating those areas of greatest need as opportunity areas, and are targeting
the Department’s improvement programmes in these locations with the aim of improving
social mobility. To date twelve areas have been identified as opportunity areas and
will share £72 million to improve the quality of education and to provide young people
with the advice and skills needed for good jobs.</p>
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