What is Pupil Premium Funding?
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM), looked after children (LAC), and their peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most. The Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM’). Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, and children of service personnel.
Stanah Primary School can decide how to spend the Pupil Premium for the benefit of the children, however, we will be held to account on how we have used this funding and the impact that it has had. Guidance has been given by the Government on strategies which could be used to improve pupils’ progress and attainment. We have taken this advice on board in developing our own
The School Leadership Team and Governing Body monitor the impact of all spending and interventions, including the Pupil Premium. We endeavour to encourage parents and carers to apply for Free School Meals where pride, stigma or changing circumstances act as barriers to its take up.
- 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, including that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and addressed (we recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged and that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals)
- Pupil Premium funding is used 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 classes, groups or individuals.
The Pupil Premium is spent in 3 main areas:
- Providing academic support to raise attainment
- Providing enrichment to encourage aspirational learning and engagement in school life
- Providing emotional support to foster the resilience and self-confidence to be a life-long learner