Pupil Premium funding is additional to main school funding. It was introduced in April 2011 and was allocated to schools based on the number of pupils registered for Free School Meals (FSM), including those who had been registered at any point in the previous six years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM’).
From September 2014, every child in an infant school is able to receive a Free School Meal. However, our school could receive additional funding to help support your child’s education if you are in receipt of certain benefits. We ask you to complete a very short form in order to register for this. (Available from the school office) The government pays schools a Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) for each child eligible. This could be used for additional support in your child’s classroom, or help with school trips or uniform purchase.
Schools also receive funding for children who:
- have been looked after by the local authority or a foster carer for 1 day or more
- have been adopted from care
- have left care under a special guardianship order
- have left care under a residence order or a child arrangement order
- have parents currently serving in the armed forces
The Government believes that Head Teachers and school leaders should decide how to use the Pupil Premium to best meet the needs of the school community, based upon their knowledge of pupil needs and from other sources of advice, including DfE published findings on effective ways to provide support. The intended aim is to ‘close the gap’ between vulnerable or disadvantaged children and those above the low-income threshold. Schools are, however, accountable for the decisions they make through the performance tables which show the performance of vulnerable pupils compared with their peers and the new Ofsted inspection framework, under which inspectors focus on the attainment of pupil groups, in particular those who attract the Pupil Premium funding.
It is also a requirement that annual reports are published on the school’s website.
Pupil Premium Strategy Statement
Principles
- We ensure that teaching and learning opportunities meet the needs of all of the pupils.
- We ensure that appropriate provision is made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups, this includes ensuring that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and addressed.
- In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that not all pupils who receive PPG will be socially disadvantaged.
- We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for PPG. We reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil or groups of pupils the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged.
- Pupil Premium funding will be allocated following a needs analysis which will identify priority groups or individuals.
All our work through the pupil premium will be aimed at accelerating progress, moving children to at least age related expectations.