Schools
should ensure the pupil premium (PP) grant is focused on effective approaches to raising
the educational attainment of eligible pupils. Schools must use
their PP grant in line with the ‘menu of approaches’ set by the
Department for Education (DfE). The menu of approaches is in the using pupil
premium guidance.
The
menu has been developed in line with the Education Endowment Foundation’s
(EEF’s) three-tiered approach to help schools allocate spending across the
following three key areas:
• support high-quality teaching,
such as staff professional development
• provide targeted academic
support, such as tutoring, including through the National Tutoring Programme
(NTP)
• tackle non-academic barriers to
academic success, such as difficulties with attendance, behaviour and social and emotional
wellbeing
PP for looked after children (LAC) is paid to schools via the Virtual School. The child's personal education plan (PEP) should document the priority needs and actions and the appropriate use of PP.
Schools are held accountable for the
outcomes they achieve with all their funding, including through Ofsted
inspections and by governors, and the PP grant
is no exception.
The designated teacher has a key role in
ensuring that the specific needs of previously looked-after children are
reflected in how you use your pupil premium.
The school's designated teacher should ensure that:
a child's PEP is up to date, and priority needs identified
actions and interventions are in place to meet the needs
PP is used and allocated to fund additional support and interventions
a SMART plan monitors and measures progress and achievement
These are a selection of Frequently Asked Questions. If you have a specific question please contact the Virtual School for direct advice.
Can PP be used to fund school uniform or transport ?
No PP should not be used to fund any basic items, equipment, school uniform or transport to school. Any of these basis care needs and getting a child to school, should be funded through the care placement or care support for a child. A child might be eligible for school transport dependent on the situation and their individual circumstances.
Can PP be used to fund an after school club?
Possibly - if the club supports the development or needs of child identified in the PEP then this could be appropriate. The club (and any support/interventions) should be detailed in the SMART plan in the PEP and meets the priority needs identified.
Can PP be used to fund additional English or Maths tuition?
Yes - if this is a priority area agreed in the PEP and forms part of the SMART plan.
Can PP be used to fund a small school trip?
Possibly - again if this meets a priority need in the PEP and is in the SMART plan. School should take a consistent approach to using PP to subsidise trips across the school. We would advise taking an appropriate proportion of PP and ask for a parental/carer contribution through their carers allowance.
Can PP be used to fund an expensive residential trip?
Possibly - again if this meets a priority need in the PEP and is in the SMART plan. School should take a consistent approach to using PP to subsidise residential trips across the school. We would advice PP is used only as an appropriate proportion towards the cost, seeking some level of parental/carer contribution through their carers allowance, and seeking some level of support via the child social worker (child in care resources).
