The Department for Education (DfE) has a strategic priority to improve the attainment of disadvantaged children. It has introduced a range of interventions, alongside its funding to support all children, specifically to improve the attainment of disadvantaged children.

This report examines whether DfE is achieving value for money through its funding to support the attainment of disadvantaged children in educational settings in England, from early years to the end of key stage 4 (the end of compulsory schooling).

It assesses:

• whether DfE has a coherent approach to support the attainment of disadvantaged children, and its progress against its objectives
• how DfE understands the attainment of children and how it evaluates what works to effectively allocate resources
• the accountability arrangements and support DfE provides schools and early years providers to ensure value for money