The pupil premium is additional funding provided to schools to support disadvantaged pupils to ensure they benefit from the same opportunities as all other children, reach their full potential and to close the gap in attainment that exists between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
There are three categories of children that qualify for pupil premium funding:
- children who are currently eligible for free school meals (FSM) or have been in receipt of FSM at any point in the last 6 years,
- children who have been looked after by Social Care continuously for more than 6 months and
- children of those employed in the armed forces.
At Courthouse, we allocate the finding to support our curriculum development, the quality of teaching and intervention. Our strategic focus is driven by:
- observation of the children and their needs,
- data analysis at school and national level,
- review of the last plan and best value and
- educational research e.g. the EEF Pupil Premium Guide and Teaching and Learning Toolkit and the Sutton Trust's What makes great teaching?
Main barriers to educational achievement faced by eligible pupils
- Narrow vocabulary, poor oracy and specific writing difficulties (including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
- Poor phonological awareness and reading fluency
- Poor general knowledge and limited life experiences
- Mental ill health, poor self esteem and emotional wellbeing (including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
Details of how we spent the pupil premium in 2018 - 2019, the impact of our work and how we plan to spend the pupil premium in 2019 - 2020 can be found below.
The local authority reviewed our provision for disadvantaged children in April 2019 and found the following:
- As part of the review, the Headteacher and the review team considered the external Pupil Premium Review that took place in July 2017 and discussed progress from that moment in time. All the actions were considered and it is clear through, for example, analysis of the current Pupil Premium plan (April 2019-March 2020), discussion with leaders and looking at some books of pupils entitled to PP funding and attendance data that actions have been completed.
- The review team can, with confidence, assert that the plan for 2019-20 prioritises quality first teaching. Beyond this, there is evidence of planned quality interventions to support access to the curriculum. A high quality science curriculum session with some Year 6 pupils was seen and there was a discussion with a member of staff who could confidently articulate how she was intervening to support Talk for Writing for disadvantaged pupils. This includes text mapping work on vocabulary.
- There are no further recommendations for this area of work.
Our next pupil premium review will take place in September 2019 with our local authority link adviser.
Pupil Premium - Are you eligible?
Pupil Premium is an allocation of funding from the Government that is given separately to the main school budget. The government provide this money to help school address the current national underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers. The funding is to ensure that provision is in place for those disadvantaged children 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’). There is also an allocation for children who are “Looked After”, adopted or children of service personnel.
Since the introduction of Free School Meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, these children may miss out on this additional funding. We do encourage parents to complete a form if they think they may be eligible, even if they do not need to claim a free meal.
What is the difference between Pupil Premium and Free School Meals (FSM)?
Pupil Premium Grant: The pupil premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers.
Free School Meals: this is one aspect of support available to families of lower income. Free School Meals is part of the Pupil Premium Grant
How might a child be eligible for FSM or Pupil Premium Funding?
A child may be eligible to receive the Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals if the parent receives anyof the following Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
Children who get any of the above benefits in their own right (ie they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a parent or guardian) can also get the Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals.
Children under the compulsory school age who are in full time education may also be able to get Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals.
If you think that your income is low and you receive any of the benefits listed above then download the application form from our school website or collect from our school office to apply for the Pupil Premium/Free School Meals.