The Department does not know how much schools spend on tutoring despite having strong evidence of its value, as it no–longer provides specific funding. With the National Tutoring Programme not continuing into 2024/25, schools must decide whether to fund this themselves.66 The Department explained that it had planned for the programme to last four years (to 2024/25) to address learning lost during the COVID–19 pandemic, with tutoring then being covered by mainstream funding.67 The Department expected many schools would want to continue tutoring, building on the clear benefits from upskilling staff and creating trained tutors, which could be funded through pupil premium.68 The Department told us this had been reflected in its updated pupil premium guidance and the “menu of evidence” available to schools to help them decide how to spend this funding.69 It explained that schools should follow their evidence as tutoring may not be the best approach for all children.70 The Department’s risk register has identified the need to promote the benefits of using pupil premium to fund 62 Qq 24, 54 63 Qq 24, 53 64 C&AG’s Report, para 17, Q55 65 Qq 57–58 66 C&AG’s Report, para 15 67 Q 23 68 Qq 23, 24, 29 69 Qq 23, 24 70 Q 29 15 tutoring.71 It has committed to tracking its use and impact going forward.72 We heard from various stakeholders about the value of a national tutoring programme.73 Supporting decisions in schools