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 Abbey Hey Primary Academy – 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 Abbey Hey Primary Academy 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.
Find out more in this Parent Guide to Pupil Premium.