Pupil Premium at Phoenix Infant and Nursery School

The Pupil Premium is a government grant allocated to all schools once a year according to the number of children whose families currently receive benefits, or those who have been in receipt over the past six years. Schools have received this funding since April 2011. The funding is calculated using the January census figures for children registered as eligible for FSM in Reception to year 2.  Nationally, pupils who receive Free School Meals underperform in comparison to those children who do not, and Pupil Premium funding is therefore allocated to this vulnerable group of pupils in order to diminish the difference.

Regulations require all schools to publish on the school website the amount allocated for PP in respect of the current financial year, details of how it is intended to be spent, how the previous academic year’s allocation was spent, and the impact of this expenditure on the educational attainment of the identified group of pupils.

Pupil Premium Co-ordinator/Champion – Nicola Broad

Pupil Premium Governor –  Sonya Hand

Objectives in spending the grant:

• We ensure that teaching and learning opportunities meet the needs of all the pupils
• We ensure that appropriate provision is made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups, ensuring that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and addressed.
• In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils we recognise that not all pupils who receive the fund will be socially disadvantaged.
• We direct the funding to support teaching, learning and the progress of vulnerable groups.
• To improve pupils’ speech, language and communication
• To support personal and social development to ensure that they make good progress
• To ensure that attendance and punctuality is in line with national expectations
• To enhance and broaden pupils’ learning experience through the use of outside providers
• To provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment, including a rich and varied curriculum to enthuse pupils
• The Pupil Premium is used to support the progress and raise the standard of achievement of those children, including the more able.
• The Head teacher and Governing body have agreed a policy for Pupil Premium to guide the use of funds and to ensure that it represents value for money.
• The Head teacher will regularly and rigorously monitor, evaluate and review the strategies put in place for pupil premium. The coordinator will report to the governing body on progress and impact.

Summary of Funding

Since 2011 the funding allocation has risen to £1,320 per edible child.  Funding is paid directly to schools for schools to use. Adoptive parents/guardians need to self-declare their child’s status to the school where their child is on roll. Schools can pool Pupil Premium money for numerous children to pay for collective support to gain maximum impact from the funding.  The Pupil Premium is additional money for schools to improve the educational and personal outcomes of disadvantaged pupils including those who have been adopted from care, or:

• Have been entitled to free school meals at any point in the last six years
• Children looked after for more than 6 months continuously at any point in the child’s history
• Children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces