Pupil Premium

What is the Pupil Premium? 

The Pupil Premium Grant is paid to schools for pupils in Reception to Year 6 who: 

• Are entitled to or are in receipt of free school meals, or have been in the last six years
• Are children of service personnel, or have been in the last three years
• Are in care or have ever been in care
• Have been adopted from care or left care under a residential order, a special guardianship order 
• or a child arrangements order

The Government has also recently introduced a new Early Years Pupil Premium Grant that is payable to schools for 3 and 4 year olds whose parents are in receipt of: 

• Income Support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Working together to meet individual needs
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided they're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,000)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

School Accountability

The pupil premium is paid to schools as they are best placed to assess what additional provision children need. OFSTED inspections report on how schools use the funding to affect the outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. Performance Tables also hold schools accountable, with data on the attainment of pupils who attract the funding, the progress made by these pupils, the gap in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. Schools whose use of Pupil Premium has significantly improved the attainment of disadvantaged pupis are recognised annually through the National Pupil Premium Awards. 

For more information please see Department for Education: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium

The amount allocated to schools for an academic year is: 

£1323 - per FSM pupils

£1200 - Looked After Children

£300 - service Children

£300 - 3 and 4 year old children (New Early Years Pupil Premium)

it is based on figures from the January census data. 

How do we select effective strategies for narrowing the gap and raising attainment?

The Education Endowment Fund (EEF) Teaching and Learning Toolkit provides a summary of educational research, which gives guidance for teachers and schools on how to use their resources to improve the attainment of disadvantaged students. At Monkhouse Primary School, we use this guidance, alongside other research-based evidence and knowledge of our students' individual requirements, to select appropriate strategies to support learning. For example, one of the top EEF recommendations is the provision of extra teachers throughout KS1 and KS2 to support teaching and learning. This is a measure which works successfully at Monkhouse Primary School. 

For more information see: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/toolkit/

At Monkhouse Primary School we believe:

That teaching and learning opportunities should meet the needs of all of the pupils. That appropriate provision should be made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups, this includes ensuring that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and addressed. 

That in making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils we recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged. We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals. 

We reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil, or groups of pupils, who the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged. 

Pupil premium funding will be allocated following a needs analysis which will identify priority classes, groups or individuals. Limited funding and resources means that not all children receiving free school meals will be in receipt of pupil premium interventions at one time. 

Monkhouse Primary School – Pupil Premium Principles

Overall, pupil premium children achieve exceptionally well at Monkhouse Primary School. It is vital that we continue to think of new, innovative and cost effective ways to maximise the impact of pupil premium funding. 

We believe in: 

• Using data to analyse progress and the causes of under-achievement / under attainment. 
• Using research evidence to inform decisions
• Allocation teachers and appropriate support to intervention groups 
• Giving regular, systematic feedback to pupils
• Ensuring class teachers, set teachers and teaching assistants know their pupil premium pupils and are responsible for accelerating progress 
• Regularly monitoring and evaluating the impact of the Pupil Premium Grant on pupil achievement and attainment; and involving Governors in planning and evaluating

Free Schools Meals and Pupil Premium Information

Currently, pupils in Years 1 and 2 as well as Reception children all receive free school meals, these are paid by Government Funding. This provision is called Universal Free School Meals or UFSM. In addition to this, parents in low income families or those that are unemployed can also allow their school to access further funding (Pupil Premium Funding) so that their children can receive free school meals in subsequent school years (Year 3 and onwards) as well as other opportunities to gelp them do their best in school. 

Please read on to find out how to check if you are eligible and if so, how to apply for this financial support. 

Introduction

The Government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a ‘Pupil Premium’.

If you qualify, your child/children can receive free school meals in all years in school. For every child registered, Monkhouse Primary School receives £1,320 a year. This additional funding allows us to provide an even better education for your child through the purchase of additional resources or staff to support learning.

Are you eligible?

You can register your child for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium if you receive any of these benefits:

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 Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190

Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Please note you are not eligible if you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit.

How to apply

1.      Registering is really quick and easy – you can apply online at http://myfreeschoolmeals.com and get an immediate answer. If you are eligible, your child’s school will be notified within 5 working days.
2.      If you want your child to have a free, healthy meal at lunchtime that’s great – they will get the free meal, saving you more than £350 a year.
3.      If you don’t want your child to have the free school meals, they can continue as normal – as long as you qualify and are registered.
4.      If you have any problems with applying for this support, please call the school office on 300 0490 or office@monkhouseprimary.co.uk 

No one will know you have registered and it will not affect any other benefits you are claiming.