Equality, diversity and inclusion annual report 2024

Early years

Information on the gender (male or female) and ethnicity of pupils, early years pupil premium, and special educational needs (EHCP and inclusion funding) is collected through the claims for funding from early years education providers. 

The data below shows the latest information for academic year September 2023 to August 2024.

Early years funding claims for 2-year-old, and 3 and 4-year-olds by child gender.

2-year-old child funding claims

Gender  Number  Percentage
Gender : Male Number : 2,852 Percentage: 51.2%
Gender : Female Number : 2,715 Percentage: 48.7%
Gender : Total Number : 5,567 Percentage: 100%

3 and 4-year-old child funding claims

Gender  Number  Percentage
Gender : Male Number : 5,776 Percentage: 52.04%
Gender : Female Number : 5,323 Percentage: 47.95%
Gender : Total Number : 11,099 Percentage: 100%

Early years funding claims for 2-year-old and 3 and 4-year-olds by child ethnicity

2-year-old child funding claims

Ethnicity  Number  Percentage
Ethnicity : White British Number : 4,935 Percentage: 88.7%
Ethnicity : Other white background Number : 308 Percentage: 5.5%
Ethnicity : Black Number : 43 Percentage: 0.8%
Ethnicity : Asian  Number : 44 Percentage: 0.8%
Ethnicity : Mixed ethnicity Number : 197 Percentage: 3.5%
Ethnicity : Other ethnicity Number : 24 Percentage: 0.4%
Ethnicity : Not stated Number : 16 Percentage: 0.3%
Ethnicity : Total Number : 5,567 Percentage: 100%

3 and 4-year-old child funding claims

Ethnicity  Number  Percentage
Ethnicity : White British Number : 9,104 Percentage: 82.0%
Ethnicity : Other white background Number : 868 Percentage: 7.8%
Ethnicity : Black Number : 252 Percentage: 2.3%
Ethnicity : Asian  Number : 323 Percentage: 2.9%
Ethnicity : Mixed ethnicity Number : 440 Percentage: 4.0%
Ethnicity : Other ethnicity Number : 76 Percentage: 0.7%
Ethnicity : Not stated Number : 36 Percentage: 0.3%
Ethnicity : Total Number : 11,099 Percentage: 100%

Early years pupil premium funding claims by child gender

Gender  Number  Percentage
Gender : Male Number : 1,684 Percentage: 53.4%
Gender : Female Number : 1,472 Percentage: 46.6%
Gender : Total Number : 3,156 Percentage: 100%

Early years pupil premium funding claims by child ethnicity

Ethnicity  Number  Percentage
Ethnicity : White British Number : 2,687 Percentage: 85.1%
Ethnicity : Other white background Number : 244 Percentage: 7.7%
Ethnicity : Black Number : 17 Percentage: 0.5%
Ethnicity : Asian  Number : 20 Percentage: 0.6%
Ethnicity : Mixed ethnicity Number : 144 Percentage: 4.6%
Ethnicity : Other ethnicity Number : 27 Percentage: 0.9%
Ethnicity : Not stated Number : 17 Percentage: 0.5%
Ethnicity : Total Number : 3,156 Percentage: 100%

Special educational needs inclusion funding by child gender

Gender  Number  Percentage
Gender : Male Number : 423 Percentage: 75.3%
Gender : Female Number : 139 Percentage: 24.7%
Gender : Total Number : 562 Percentage: 100%

A significantly higher volume of SEN inclusion funding was sought for male children than female children.

Special educational needs inclusion funding by child ethnicity

Ethnicity  Number  Percentage
Ethnicity : White British Number : 468 Percentage: 83.3%
Ethnicity : Other white background Number : 45 Percentage: 8.0%
Ethnicity : Black Number : 0 Percentage: 0.0%
Ethnicity : Asian  Number : 5 Percentage: 0.9%
Ethnicity : Mixed ethnicity Number : 20 Percentage: 3.6%
Ethnicity : Other ethnicity Number : 6 Percentage: 1.1%
Ethnicity : Not stated Number : 18 Percentage: 3.2%
Ethnicity : Total Number : 562 Percentage: 100%

Education Health Care plans by gender

Gender  Number  Percentage
Gender : Male Number : 111 Percentage: 62.7%
Gender : Female Number : 66 Percentage: 37.3%
Gender : Total Number : 177 Percentage: 100%

A significantly higher number of EHCP claims were made for male children than female children.

Education Health Care plans by ethnicity

Ethnicity  Number  Percentage
Ethnicity : White British Number : 160 Percentage: 90.4%
Ethnicity : Other white background Number : 5 Percentage: 2.8%
Ethnicity : Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity Number : 10 Percentage: 5.6%
Ethnicity : Not stated Number : 2 Percentage: 0.6%
Ethnicity : Total Number : 177 Percentage: 100%

Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme

The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme is a government funded programme until March 2025, that provides free holiday clubs for reception to year 11 pupils in receipt of benefits-related free school meals in Lincolnshire over the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays.

The HAF programme is designed to ensure a high-quality experience for children that will result in receiving healthy and nutritious meals and maintaining a healthy level of physical activity. Children and young people (CYP) who attend HAF develop a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health-related issues and have the opportunity to take part in fun and engaging activities.

The following data is based on HAF delivery within the 2023 to 2024 academic year.

Attendance to HAF provision

Holiday Primary Secondary Total
Holiday: Winter 2023 Primary: 2,524 Secondary: 307 Total: 2,831
Holiday: Easter 2024 Primary: 3,059 Secondary: 620 Total: 3,679
Holiday: Summer 2024 Primary: 5,992 Secondary: 1,082 Total: 6,174

A higher proportion of primary aged children attend HAF, though secondary attendance continues to grow.

HAF 2023 to 2024 attendance by gender

Holiday Male Female
Holiday: Winter 2023 Male: 53% (1,500) Female: 47% (1,331)
Holiday: Easter 2024 Male: 52% (1,913) Female: 48% (1,766)
Holiday: Summer 2024 Male: 49% (3,025) Female: 51% (3,149)

A higher proportion of males attend HAF provision than females.

Growth of HAF funded special educational needs and disability spaces

Holiday 2022 2023 2024 Growth
Holiday: Easter 2022: 177 2023: 784 2024: 765 Growth: 332%
Holiday: Summer 2022: 597 2023: 1,215 2024: 1,427 Growth: 139%
Holiday: Winter 2022: 622 2023: 604 2024: to be confirmed Growth: to be confirmed

The volume of HAF funded SEND spaces continues to increase during the summer holiday period, with a slight decrease recorded in Easter 2024 and Winter 2023 due to reduction of providers able to offer SEND specific provision.

Reporting on other protected characteristics is challenging as the Department of Education (DfE) do not require returns on age, race and religion.

If HAF funding continues, the HAF Team will look to increase the volume of SEND spaces and grow secondary provision and attendance whilst identifying creative solutions to increase the volume of funded HAF places, during the fourth year of national delivery.