Education recovery support
Updated 6 September 2024
Applies to England
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The Department for Education (DfE) has implemented and funded programmes to support education recovery since the pandemic.
DfE has aimed to make sure recovery programmes:
- focus support on those who need it most
- give providers flexibility to tailor help to their own circumstances
- leave a long-term legacy
Most recovery specific programmes have now ended. This guidance shows where education providers can find further support through mainstream or continuing programmes where needed.
Early years
Information about support available for early years providers is provided on the early years education recovery programme page.
Schools
Accelerator fund programmes
Schools can access programmes to help disadvantaged pupils catch up through the Education Endowment Foundation. These are provided at subsidised cost as part of the accelerator fund.
You can also get guidance and support through the Research Schools Network.
Tutoring in Schools
The Department for Education has published guidance on planning and delivering tutoring in education settings.
Continuous professional development
Education professionals can get training and support through national professional qualifications (NPQs).
This can help them to support education recovery by giving participants the knowledge and skills to:
- improve in their current roles
- progress in their career
From autumn 2024, NPQs will be targeted at those working in the most challenging circumstances and serving deprived communities.
Science and maths
Teachers can get continuous professional development to support science and maths teaching from the STEM learning website.
Computing
Teachers can get support to teach computing:
- from the National Centre for Computing Education’s website
- by contacting their local computing hub
Curriculum resources
Schools can access the following, for education recovery:
- Oak National Academy’s digital curriculum resources, which include specialist content for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
- Isaac Physics, which has free, topic-based physics learning support for secondary school students through to GCSE and A level
- Isaac Computer Science, which has free, topic-based computer science support for GCSE and A level students and their teachers
- the diagnostic assessments for GCSE computer science and key stage 3 computing, from the National Centre for Computing Education
- resources on computing at key stages 1 to 4, from Teach Computing Curriculum
- the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme’s free online courses that support year 11 students’ transition to level 3 study, including the transition to A level mathematics course and the Core Maths Skills course
16 to 19 education
Providers of 16 to 19 education can access support from:
- the additional hours fund
- curriculum resources to help their teaching
Additional teaching and learning hours
For the 2024 to 2025 academic year, providers of 16 to 19 education must continue to provide additional learning hours, as explained in 16 to 19 study programmes: guide for providers.
Curriculum resources
Providers of 16 to 19 education can support students using:
- the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme preparation for higher education mathematics resources, which are designed to help students revise some of the later content of A level maths
- Isaac Physics, which has free, topic-based physics learning support for secondary school students through to GCSE and A level
- Isaac computer science learning, which has resources for students and teachers of A level computer science, covering the curricula for the AQA and OCR exam boards
Wellbeing and socialisation
There are free resources designed to support pupil and teacher wellbeing, mental health and socialisation.
Mental health and wellbeing support
The support to improve mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges includes:
- guidance on whole school and college approaches to mental health and wellbeing
- funding for senior mental health leads training
- mental health support teams
- the mental health lead resource hub
- the targeted support toolkit from Mentally Healthy Schools
Holiday activities and food programme
The holiday activities and food programme provides grant funding to local authorities to coordinate free holiday provision for eligible children. They can do this in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.
The programme is mainly for school aged children from reception to year 11, inclusive, who get benefits-related free school meals.
Active Recovery Hub
The Youth Sport Trust - Active Recovery Hub includes practical ideas from sports organisations to get young people moving throughout the day.
Education staff wellbeing
The education staff wellbeing charter sets out the actions that government and other organisations, including Ofsted, will take to improve the wellbeing of staff in schools and colleges.
Continuous professional development
A mental wellbeing training module is available to help subject leads and teachers understand what they should teach and improve their confidence in delivering mental wellbeing as part of the curriculum.
Reducing school workload
Schools can access support and practical to help reduce school leader and teacher workload.
These include the school workload reduction toolkit. School leaders, teachers and other sector experts have worked with the Department for Education to create this.