Supporting Children from Low-Income Households
Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive in their education, no matter their background. At Bright Light Education, we’re committed to supporting children from low-income households by offering tailored academic guidance and accessible resources. Whether you’re a parent, carer or guardian navigating financial challenges, we’re here to help you find the support your child needs to succeed. From tutoring to confidence-building, discover how we can make a real difference for your family.
What is the Attainment Gap?
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an “independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement”. In January 2018, the EEF published a report entitled “The Attainment Gap” summarising its key findings relating to academic attainment and economic disadvantage. Their studies showed that the “attainment gap is largest for children and young people eligible for free school meals (the best available measure of economic disadvantage) and those assessed with special educational needs”. They reported that the gap is already evident when children begin school aged 5 and it grows wider throughout the different stages of education.
It is no surprise to learn that “the better a young person’s academic qualifications at school, the greater the likelihood of securing a well-paid job.”
The EEF considers both one-to-one tuition as well as small-group tuition to be effective strategies “for providing targeted support for pupils that are identified as having low prior attainment”.
In their studies, “One to one Tuition” and “Small Group Tuition” the EEF conclude that studies in England have shown that pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals typically receive additional benefits from one to one tuition as well as small group tuition.
Bright Light Education Bursary Schemes
Bright Light Education Bursary Scheme
To support children who are from low-income households, we offer free spaces on our online courses and book clubs. These spaces are offered in the week leading up to the course or club start date, where there is space available. We have a waiting list for the bursary scheme and ask that you specify which course (and course dates) you are interested in for your child. Please contact us each time you want to register for a specific course.
To register for the Bright Light Education Bursary Scheme, please email us evidence that your child is eligible for benefits related free-school meals as detailed on the UK Government Website.
For those families who would like to book and secure a place in advance, we offer a 50% discount to two students per course who are eligible for benefits related free school meals. Please email the evidence to us, and we will issue you with a coupon code to use at the checkout.
Since the bursary scheme was launched in 2024, we have supported 13 families at a total cost of £3566 (updated: August 2025).
Bright Light Education Schools Bursary Scheme
We work with schools to offer free courses and clubs to children who would otherwise not be able to access our services. To fund these courses and clubs, we discuss options with schools (including applications for funding to external charities and foundations, as well as exploring internal school budget opportunities). Our clubs and courses can be delivered in person or online, and we welcome both short and long term partnerships with schools. Schools can offer these clubs and courses as after-school clubs or small-group intervention classes.
Working with other organisations
The Access Project
We support the work of “The Access Project”. The Access Project supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access top universities, through a unique combination of tuition and in-school mentoring. We promote the work they do with our tutors and show tutors how they can become volunteer tutors.
Action Tutoring
We support the work of Action Tutoring. Action Tutoring is a charity that supports disadvantaged young people to achieve academically, with a view to enabling them to progress in education, employment or training. They do this by partnering high-quality volunteer tutors with pupils to increase their subject knowledge, confidence and study skills. We promote the work they do with our tutors and show tutors how they can become volunteer tutors.
Campaigns
End Child Food Poverty: Feed the Future:
Support the call from Marcus Rashford for the Government to improve the diets and food access of children in low income families.
Bite Back 2030:
Support the call to extend free school meals to all children in need.
No Child Left Behind:
Support the call to extend free school meals to all children in primary school.
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