Before Christmas, members of the senior leadership team attended a forum to discuss updates on pupil premium.
The pupil premium funding was introduced in 2011, it is a sum of money given to schools each year by the Government to improve the attainment of disadvantaged children. This is based on research showing that children from low income families perform less well at school than their peers. Often, children who are entitled to pupil premium face challenges such as poor language and communication skills, lack of confidence and issues with attendance and punctuality. The pupil premium is intended to directly benefit the children who are eligible, helping to narrow the gap between them and their classmates, often, all of the children in a class will reap some benefit from how the school spends its pupil premium.
Schools receive guidance on how to spend their pupil premium money, following this guidance schools identify what would be of most benefit to the children who are eligible. The overall goal is to ensure that gaps between all children are closed, in particular, the children that attract this funding to school.
Primary schools are given pupil premium for:
- Children in Reception to Year 6 who are, or have ever been, entitled to free school meals based on their family income
- Children in care
- Children previously in care who have been adopted, or who have a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order. As long as permission to record this has been granted.
- Children recorded as being from service families
Schools do have to show that they are using their pupil premium fund appropriately. This is measured through Ofsted inspections and annual performance tables showing the progress made by children who are eligible for pupil premium. Schools must also publish this online, which can be found at
https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/about-us/premium-allocations/
As a result of attending the forum, we have looked into the way we allocate our funding and would like to include Free Breakfast Club for children who we receive additional funding for, as identified from the list above. This free club will commence from Monday 24th February so we can ensure the staffing in the club can accommodate the increase of children. If you are applicable you will be informed by an individual letter. If you already have money outstanding for Breakfast Club, this must be paid before Friday 14th February, to allow the free provision to be offered.
Kind regards
Mr P Dixon
Head Teacher
