Hastings gets £160K to boost pupils’ literacy

The Hastings Opportunity Area (HOA), funded by the Department for Education, announced funding of a further £160,000 to further embed literacy programmes in schools in Hastings.

It said the funding will allow schools to continue to develop projects that have already seen a positive impact on literacy.

The additional funding will also enable other schools in Hastings to implement those programmes that are having a positive impact on improving children and young people’s literacy.

Across Hastings, more than 20 schools will now be able to implement programmes.

Projects being funded by HOA in the year ahead include continuing to fund an existing scheme to increase the skills of staff in early years settings and nurseries support children who have delayed speech and language, implementing a new initiative to support young children develop core speech and language skills in four schools in Hastings, and funding a programme to support children and young people who require additional literacy support, to improve their reading skills.

This year the HOA will be supporting more than 11 primary schools and three secondary schools to implement the programme.

Richard Meddings, chairman of Hastings Opportunity Area Board, said: “We are delighted that we are able to support so many schools and early years settings across Hastings building on the existing work that many were already engaged in to deliver really robust and effective approaches to teaching literacy.

“Since 2018, we have seen real improvements in attainment in literacy for pupils in Hastings but the impact of Covid has had a significant impact on children’s literacy, with many experiencing significant learning loss as a result of lockdown.

“It is vital therefore that schools get access to additional funding and support, so that they can implement programmes that have a real impact on improving literacy skills and particularly of those children who have struggled the most.”

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.