Pupil Premium is money allocated to schools by the government to ensure that pupils are not disadvantaged academically due to family circumstances.

The Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years. Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months.

Schools are required to publish online information about how the Pupil Premium has been used.

Principals

In making decisions about the allocation of Pupil Premium funds, the following principals are applied:

·        Teaching and learning opportunities must meet the needs of all pupils; this includes ensuring that needs are adequately assessed and addressed on an individual basis

·        Whilst we are committed to ensuring that appropriate provision is made for pupils who meet the characteristics of nationally defined ‘vulnerable groups’, we ensure that we do not stereotype pupils. For example, we recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged

·        We also recognise that not all pupils who are disadvantaged academically are registered or qualify for free school meals. We have many children who don’t qualify by a very narrow margin. At Forest Fields, we reserve the right to allocate Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil or groups of pupils the school has legitimately identified as being disadvantaged. However, we will ensure that at least 75% of pupils included in any Pupil Premium funding will be made from children receiving free school meals or children who are looked after.

·        All our work through Pupil Premium will be aimed at accelerating progress and moving children to at least age related expectations. Initially, this will be in communication, social and emotional development, English and mathematics.

·        Provision will not be aimed exclusively at pupils with SEND (Special Educational Needs or Disability), but there will be a proportion allocated to help ensure those pupils who are in receipt of free school meals or those pupils who we feel are legitimately disadvantaged have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Reporting and Accountability  

It is the responsibility of the Head Teacher or designated member of staff to produce regular reports to the Governors. Information to be included will be:

·        the progress made towards narrowing the gap, by year group, for pupils identified as belonging to vulnerable groups

·        an outline of the provision that was made since the last meeting

·        an evaluation of the cost effectiveness, in terms of the progress made by the pupils receiving a particular provision, when compared with other forms of support.

The Governors of the school will ensure that there is an annual statement to parents on how the Pupil Premium funding has been used to address the issue of narrowing the gap, for socially disadvantaged pupils.

Due to fairly high levels of pupil mobility, the Pupil Premium plan is reviewed regularly in line with adjustments to the funding we receive throughout the year.

Pupil progress for all classes, including those children who receive Pupil Premium, is reviewed throughout the year.  As part of this process, the spending of Pupil Premium may be adjusted in response to changing or emerging needs.