Pupil Premium 

Pupil Premium

The Pupil Premium is additional funding provided to schools by the current Government, who wish to close the educational attainment gap we have nationally between children who are eligible for Free School meals (FSM), and those who are not. The national statistics show that children who are eligible for FSMs attain lower scores on tests and assessments.

We do have children who fit this target group and more resources to support their progress is welcomed. Of course this is a generalised assumption and we have many examples of children at Luddington & Garthorpe Primary School and Eastoft CE Primary that have achieved the highest levels whilst still being eligible for FSMs and our data shows that there is not an achievement gap between those pupils who are and those who are not eligible. However, this funding does allow us to support and challenge our pupils even further.

Pupil Premium Grant is allocated according to the number of pupils on-roll who are eligible for free school meals (FSM), a smaller amount allocated according to the number of children of service families, and an allocation for each pupil who has been ‘Looked After’ (in care) for 6 months or more. In 2012, funding was extended to include pupils who have been eligible for free school meals within the past 6 years.

It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility. However, schools are to be held accountable for how they have used the additional funding to support pupils.

The Governing Body of our schools makes decisions regarding how the funding we are allocated should be spent to best provide for the children’s education, and to ensure value for money.

In the past the additional funding has been used in a variety of ways, depending on what has been judged to be in the best interests of the children eligible for that funding. This has included: help with paying for basic school uniform items; additional ICT equipment being purchased to ensure that those less likely to have facilities at home can use resources freely in school; help with paying for school trips and extracurricular activities; and 1:1 tuition if it is deemed appropriate.

The Governing Body are well aware of the differing needs of the families and the pupils in our school and as such will regularly review how best to allocate the additional funding to ensure that it is being targeted in the best way possible.

Please see below for information regarding how the pupil premium was spent in previous financial years, the impact of this funding, and the plans for future spending.

Impact of the Pupil Premium Grant (PPG).

The funding the school receives must be used in a timely and carefully targeted manner to achieve maximum benefit for our PP children. We monitor these children closely on an individual basis, as our small cohorts allow for this, and this shows that our interventions and spending have a positive impact on children’s well-being as well as their academic achievement.  

For more information regarding the Pupil Premium see the following link:

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/pupil-premium