LIVERPOOL City Region Combined Authority has secured £500,000 to tackle inequality in Early Years education.

The investment heralds a new partnership with the Fair Education Alliance (FEA) – a national coalition of 300 organisations, including 60 across the City Region, supported by Bloomberg.

The investment was announced this week at the Fair Education Summit at London’s Science Museum. It will help improve the education and job prospects of children from low-income backgrounds, who are currently 10 months behind their peers by the end of primary school.

Together with local authorities and the FEA, the Combined Authority will design a series of initiatives aimed at ensuring every child is given the opportunity to succeed.

The measures will build on the pioneering work across the City Region, supporting schools and colleges and improving access to skills and employment.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Liverpool City Region, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said:- “Every child deserves the best start in life, no matter where they grow up or how much their parents earn. By working with the Fair Education Alliance, we’re taking another step towards creating a fairer, more inclusive education system that gives every young person the chance to reach their potential. This funding will help us build on the work we’re already doing to give every child the best start in life, helping us to scale up our Early Years initiatives and do even more to close the gap for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Gina Cicerone, Co-CEO of the Fair Education Alliance, said:- “The challenges facing children in the Liverpool City Region demand urgent, collective action. That’s why this partnership places collaboration and innovation at its heart – working with Alliance members, Metro Mayors and communities to create long-term change. We can’t wait to work together so every child has the best start in life. Thanks to the support given by Bloomberg and other funding partners, we can connect neighbourhood to national and build a fairer future for every child in the Liverpool City Region.”

Jemma Read, Global Head of Corporate Philanthropy, Bloomberg, said:- “Bloomberg is committed to expanding opportunities for young people, and the Neighbourhood to National Strategy reflects the kind of place-based leadership needed to drive lasting change. We’re proud to support the Fair Education Alliance and work alongside Mayors who are championing better outcomes for children and young people in the communities that need it most.”

The Combined Authority is 1 of 3 Collaboration Partners selected by the FEA as part of its £6 million Neighbourhood to National strategy, which is supported by Bloomberg. A study by the Social Metrics Commission found 1 in 3 children in the UK are growing up in poverty.

The strategy outlines a plan to create new collective initiatives to narrow the inequality gap and ensure that children are not limited by their socioeconomic background.

As part of the funding award, three mayoral authorities were announced as Collaboration Partnerships, aimed at uniting government, schools, businesses and young people in the design and delivery of community-based initiatives.

The partnerships will test and scale initiatives that drive lasting change in three key areas:- Early Years, literacy and future job skills.

The Combined Authority will focus on Early Years, harnessing its devolved powers and expertise in skills and employability, and building on its pioneering work in the sector.

This year, the CA has invested £615,000 in Skills Bootcamps for Early Years, to create 270 new opportunities through Accelerated Apprenticeships, and repurposed £1.3m of unused Apprenticeship Levy funds to create 184 apprenticeships. Working with local authorities, colleges, training providers and national bodies, the CA has developed innovative solutions to improve school readiness and support families – from bridging courses for Level 3 Early Years qualifications to sector-based work pilots now rolled out nationally.

In 2023, the CA invested £5.25m in Cradle to Career, a ground-breaking initiative which tackles inequality in families across the City Region’s most deprived areas. It has significantly improved literacy standards among children and was named Collaborative Initiative of the Year at last year’s Institute of Economic Development Awards.