DISADVANTAGED school children in Welwyn Hatfield have benefited from a funding initiative by the Coalition Government – to the tune of �818,000.

The Department for Education has released figures for the first year of the Pupil Premium policy – a Liberal Democrat initiative introduced as part of the deal to form a coalition with the Conservatives.

The Pupil Premium is additional funding allocated to schools per pupil receiving Free School Meals.

While schools are free to spend the money as they see fit, they will be required to publish information about how they have used the premium from September 2012.

Lib Dem county and borough cllr Malcolm Cowan said: “This is fantastic news.

“The Pupil Premium is a wholly Lib Dem policy that we have been able to introduce by being in Government.

“It is focused on raising the performance of children from disadvantaged backgrounds; the money is paid direct to the school, and is based on children entitled to free school meals.

“In this way, schools with poorer children benefit most.

“It is also a milestone in breaking the link between poverty and achievement.”