Pupil Premium
What is Pupil Premium Funding?
The pupil premium grant is funding to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in state-funded schools in England as the government believes that it is socially unacceptable for children’s success to be determined by their social circumstances. This funding directly supports schools in their work to raise the levels of achievement for all disadvantaged pupils, closing the gap between them and their peers.
Pupil Premium funding is allocated to schools on the basis of the number of qualifying pupils which has been traditionally linked to those pupils who benefit from free school meals. However, the grant also provides support for children and young people with parents in the regular armed forces, referred to as service pupil premium (SPP). This has been combined into pupil premium payments to make it easier for schools to manage their spending. Pupils that the SPP intends to support are not necessarily from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Funding is also based on the number of pupils who are looked-after or previously looked-after children.
Schools can then decide how the funding is spent, as they are best placed to assess the needs of the individuals within their care. Strategies will also be based on the wealth of evidence of ‘what works’, evaluated by the institutions such as Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), to ensure funding is used effectively. Funding for looked-after children should be managed by the local authority’s virtual school head (VSH) in consultation with the child’s school.
Additional funding for pupils can bring wide ranging benefits but it is most specifically aimed at closing the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils. When free school meals for all pupils was introduced in KS1, there was a notable drop in applications for funding and schools have been required to be more proactive in the identification of eligible pupils and in engaging with parents to share relevant information about qualification criteria. For more information about who qualifies for funding, and the online application portal, please click the link below:
As there are many benefits for pupils, outside of school meal provision, we would strongly urge any parents who are unsure (especially those with children in KS1) to check this out.
Alternatively, you can ring the contact centre on 01454 868008. Additionally, you can contact Mrs Bowden or Miss Flowers in the school office on 01454 867225, if you are still unsure if your child qualifies for free school meals and Pupil Premium or you need help with your application.