How could your child benefit from Pupil Premium Funding?
The school is responsible for deciding how to best support the children eligible for Pupil Premium Funding. The support offered varies for each child but in the past has included:
paying for school trips - including residential visits,
providing school uniform when costs are tricky,
further opportunities for more able Pupil Premium children,
one-to-one/small group support with TAs or specialist teachers,
music lessons,
children being part of Achievement for All and parents being offered longer meetings with teachers,
reading support,
special trips and activities for Pupil Premium children.
What is Pupil Premium Funding?
Pupil Premium gives schools extra funding to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils from Reception to Year 6. Children are eligible for Pupil Premium Funding if they have received Free School Meals at any time in the past six years. (This does not apply to all Key Stage 1 children eligible for Universal Free School Meals.) Additionally, Pupil Premium Funding is available for children who are in currently in care or who have been adopted from being in care in England and Wales. Children with parents in the armed forces are also eligible.
Pupil Premium was initially introduced in April 2011 when schools received an additional £488 for each of their pupils eligible for Free School Meals. The level of funding has increased over the years. For the school year 2023 to 2024, the funding is as follows:
Pupil Premium Funding Rates for Eligible Pupils |
|
Pupils from Reception to Year 6 who have been entitled to Free School Meals in the last 6 years. |
£1,455 |
Looked after children who are in the care of an English local authority. |
£2,530 |
Children who have previously been looked after by a local authority in England and Wales but have since been adopted. |
£2,530 |
Children who have a parent in the armed forces. |
£335 |
Schools are able to choose how to spend the Pupil Premium Funding, on those in receipt of the funding, but are held accountable for the way in which the funding has been used to raise the attainment of children who are classified as disadvantaged under this system. Schools also have a legal responsibility to report on the impact this additional funding is having on diminishing the difference in attainment between those receiving the funding and those who are not. The impact of expenditure can be measured in many different ways.
Is your child eligible for Pupil Premium Funding?
Pupil Premium funding is extra money given to the school to support your child’s education. There are several reasons children can be eligible:
If a family receives any of the following, you can apply for Free School Meals. (You still need to do this even though children are currently entitled to Free School Meals throughout Reception and Key Stage 1 – they only get the Pupil Premium Funding if your Free School Meals application is successful.)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of 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 - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Your child may also be entitled to Pupil Premium Funding if they
- are currently looked after in the care of an English local authority.
- have been adopted from a local authority in England or Wales.
- have a parent in the armed force.
Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2023 - 2024
Previous Pupil Premium Funding Proposals
Pupil Premium Reviews
Pupil Premium External Reviews
When St. Catherine's was inspected by Ofsted in December 2018, the report stated that, "Pupils who are eligible for the funding achieve well... rigorous monitoring has ensured that pupils make strong progress from their starting points. As well as a strategic focus on outcomes, leaders have ensured that pupils have access to a wide range of well-being experiences. Leaders use the funding effectively to continue to improve disadvantaged pupils' attendance." Ofsted Report ~ St. Catherine's Catholic Primary School, December 2018
In April 2018, St. Catherine’s paid for an external review of the way in which Pupil Premium Funding was being used to support disadvantaged pupils and narrow the gap between their attainment and that of their peers.
The findings of the review were very positive. It stated that, “The school is making very effective use of the PPG and has a very good range of strategies and systems in place to support PP pupils. The passionate and effective leadership that is evident, and the ethos within the school, means that it is in a very good position to make further progress." Pupil Premium Report ~ St. Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, April 2018
The December 2018 Ofsted Report, the April 2018 Report and the previous December 2015 Report can be viewed by downloading the documents below.