What is the Pupil Premium?
The Pupil Grant is funding allocated to schools for the specific purpose of boosting the attainment of pupils from low income families. Funding is based on children who have registered for a free school meal at any point in the last six years, children who have been in care for more than six months and children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces.
Why has it been introduced?
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to make up for the unequal opportunities that children on Free School Meals get compared with children from wealthier families. The school must make sure that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most. Whilst schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit, we are required to publish online information about how we have used the Pupil Premium.
How do we make sure that the right children are benefiting?
With the high number of children facing challenges of various kind, we fund additional teaching assistants to support pupils in their learning. This means that the Pupil Premium children can be given more support than would have been possible without the extra funding. Every pupil is assessed every ten weeks and support is put in place where required. Staff are aware of Pupil Premium children and ensure they receive support and intervention. All staff have high expectations for every child at Hunningley Primary – including those receiving Pupil Premium funding. We endeavour to ensure that all pupils reach their full potential and achieve the high targets set for them.
We invest in high-class training for both teachers and teaching assistants so that they make best use of the Pupil Premium grant. The Headteacher constantly checks on how the grant is being spent and the effect it is having. And they report every term to the governors who also monitor the use of the grant.
Education at Hunningley Primary isn’t just about the children doing well in tests. We provide a wide range of opportunities for children to broaden their experiences, including educational trips and visits. With around half the children in every class being on Free School Meals, Pupil Premium funds are set aside to make sure no child misses out. This includes a residential visit.