DISADVANTAGED primary school pupils in Somerset will receive £16.98m to help boost their attainment, Yeovil MP David Laws announced this week.

The money comes from the Liberal Democrats pupil premium funding for 2015/16.

It gives schools extra money to help teachers support pupils from poorer families who are at more risk of failing at school and falling behind.

The announcement made earlier this week by Mr Laws – who is also the Minister of State for Schools means that primary schools in the county will receive £1,320 for every pupil who has registered for free school meals at any time in the last six years.

The schools are given the power to choose how they spend that money most effectively.

Mr Laws said: “Every single child deserves a fair start in life and the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

“That is why the pupil premium is so important, it helps teachers in Somerset and across the country support children from poorer families who, the figures show us, do not get that fair start in life and fall quickly behind their classmates.

“I have seen first-hand how pupil premium money is being used to wonderful effect in Somerset and I am very much looking forward to seeing how teachers in Somerset use this additional funding to help our children succeed.

“In government the Liberal Democrats have protected the schools budget, introduced the pupil premium and expanded early years education for the very youngest children, I believe strongly that we have a record to be proud of and the pupil premium is a very important part of that.”