FUNDING worth £42m to improve the life chances of the region’s poorest children has been confirmed by the Government.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians in the region say the pupil premium is providing vital extra money to reduce educational inequalities.

However, teachers say the money has replaced other funding and its impact has been negligible, while opposition MPs accuse the Government of using “smoke and mirrors” to hide a cut in spending.

More than 78,000 North-East children and nearly 10,000 in North Yorkshire are eligible for the premium.

The scheme gives £488 to schools for every child on the roll receiving free school meals.

The Government pledged £430 per pupil earlier this year, but this has now been increased by £58 after the Department for Education overestimated the number of children eligible for the scheme The money is designed to help schools support children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Stockton South MP James Wharton described the money as an important boost for education in Teesside.

He said: “Education has to be one of our main priorities if we are to secure the success of the next generation.

“This money will be of real benefit in what we all know are tough times.”

Darlington councillor Anne-Marie Curry also welcomed the funding.

She said: “That is why Liberal Democrats nationally have ensured that there is extra money to finally reverse this worrying trend that was allowed to continue under the previous government.”

However, a survey at the Schools NorthEast summit held at St James’ Park, in Newcastle, at the weekend, suggested that while the pupil premium had resulted in budget increases for a minority of schools, the majority of senior teachers felt it had had negligible impact on their overall budget as it replaced other funding sources.

Beccy Earnshaw, director of the organisation, which represents the views of schools in the region, said: “I think we need to be clear whether this is additional funding or whether it just replaces money from other areas.”

Pat Glass MP, Labour MP for North West Durham and member of the House of Commons Education Select Committee, said: “Analysis has shown that actual spending per pupil will fall by 2.5 per cent next year.

“The pupil premium is leaving children across the North-East shortchanged.”