A multi-academy trust has been awarded a Department for Education (DfE) grant to support Suffolk primary school children who have difficulty learning in a mainstream school.

Olive Academies, which aims to support schools to reduce the number of young children being excluded, has been given £89,863 from the DfE to set up an outreach programme.

The programme will support Suffolk primary school children who are finding it hard to thrive in their mainstream school and who could be at risk of exclusion.

The money has come from the DfE’s Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) Development and Improvement Fund (MDIF).

Olive AP Academy Suffolk (Central) is based across two sites in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, supporting children aged 7-16 and has up to 60 pupils on roll at any time.

The academy’s outreach workers will support children in their own school to improve classroom behaviour, learning and wellbeing.

The project will initially work with children in Bury St Edmunds’ primary schools before reaching out to Forest Heath, mid Suffolk, Ipswich and beyond.

Olive Academies say the project will offer the best possible holistic support to children, families and teachers and aims to close the attainment gap for some of Suffolk’s more disadvantaged children.

Mark Vickers, chief executive of Olive Academies, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this important grant from the DfE.

“It is great news for the children of Suffolk. Our aim is to support schools to reduce the number of young children being excluded and help give some of the most vulnerable children in the region the best start in life.

“Olive Academies looks forward to working in collaboration with Suffolk County Council and primary schools across Suffolk, providing this much needed outreach programme.”

The outreach team will be based at Olive AP Academy – Suffolk (Central) building in Bury St Edmunds.

Suffolk primary school leaders who would like to find out more about the project and how their school can get involved are invited to email info@oliveacademies.org.uk

More information about the DfE’s Development and Improvement Fund can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-the-mat-development-and-improvement-fund