Pupil Premium
What is Pupil Premium Funding?
The Pupil Premium Grant is a sum of money the school receives from the Department for Education (DFE) for each pupil who is either in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) or is a Looked After Child (LAC).
Nationally the statistics show that these pupils achieve less well than other children. The aim of the Pupil Premium money is to try to close that attainment gap.
A service premium has been introduced for children whose parents are serving in the armed forces.
In some reports the government use the term ‘disadvantaged’ to describe this group. This refers to the fact that statistically this group is the most likely to underachieve in comparison to outcomes for children who do not fall into this group.
Recovery funding
Schools should spend this premium on evidence-based approaches to support pupils and activities should include those that:
- support the quality of teaching
- provide targeted academic support
- deal with non-academic barriers to success in school, such as attendance, behaviour and social and emotional support
Like the pupil premium, schools can:
- spend the recovery premium on a wider cohort of pupils than those who are eligible for the funding
- direct recovery premium spending where they think the need is greatest
We have spent this funding in line with the conditions of grant and can demonstrate this upon request.
What about UFSM (infant free school meals)?
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically receive free school meals, however if you receive certain benefits and register for free school meals, the school will then receive the grant. If you do not register for free school meals, the school will not receive the grant to help provide support for your child. The Pupil Premium grant is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years.
How do I apply for the grant?
If you think that your child may qualify for free school meals, please come and ask for advice at the school office and we will be pleased to help you.
Information about the Service Pupil Premium is here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-service-pupil-premium/service-pupil-premium-what-you-need-to-know
Where can I find information on how the school uses the Pupil Premium Grant?
Every year our school publishes a copy of its Pupil Premium Statement of Impact for the previous year and an Action Plan for Spending for the upcoming year. This document can be found at the bottom of the page.
The document details how the grant was spent to support the academic achievements and health and wellbeing of pupils over the previous year. It also states the amount of money the school will receive for the coming year and how the school intends to spend it.
YCST Shared Principles for Pupil Premium
At Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, we believe in meeting the needs of all pupils, including pupils in receipt of the pupil premium grant with a school commitment to high quality learning. The values of the trust informs this approach.
“Where everyone is valued and respected, where we share commitment to education that is ambitious, setting the highest expectations and where integrity is the foundation” (YCST vision statement)
Core Principles:
- High quality, inclusive teaching and learning for all
- Provision that supports an improvement in well-being and/or an increase in academic attainment for all
“Pupils with better health and wellbeing are likely to achieve better academically.” (The link between pupil health and well-being and attainment: Public Health England)
- Addressing barriers to learning and the characteristics of less successful learners
- Monitoring and evaluation
- A commitment to working collaboratively to provide challenge and support
These principles and based on current research evidence and are understood by all members of the school community. Whilst these are the shared principles of the trust, we recognise the individual settings and therefore needs of each of our school are different.
“Evidence shows that more good teaching for all pupils will especially benefit the most disadvantaged.” Sir Kevan Collins (Chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation)
Our core principles are under-pinned by the following procedures:
- Strategic reviews with peer partners – every 3 years
- Case studies
- Regular communications with parents
- On-going school based monitoring and evaluation
- Class provision maps
- Reports to Governors
- Annual Pupil Premium Report *
*While we are required to post a report detailing the impact of how we have allocated funds from the Pupil Premium Grant, we do not conduct analysis on pupil premium students as a group, since our children do not always share similar needs. Data collected on such small groups is not statistically reliable.
“Effective schools also recognise that disadvantaged pupils are not a homogenous group and employ targeted approaches for groups and individuals facing particular barriers.”
(Effective pupil premium reviews 2016: Teaching School Council)