Three and four-year-olds from low income families are to benefit from a new fund unveiled today helping to prevent them falling behind before they have even started school.

Dorset has been allocated £185,000 as part of the new Early Years Pupil Premium, worth over £300 per pupil, which is designed to narrow the attainment gap between young children from low-income families and their peers.

Children from low-income families are estimated to already be 19 months behind more advantaged peers when they start school.