Pupil Premium
Click here for the Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2023
Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011 and is additional funding given to publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.
Eligibility for Pupil Premium funding can include:
- Children who have been registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years
- Children who have been in care for six months or longer
- Children who are adopted or are subject to special guardianship
- Children whose families are in receipt of certain benefits
- Service children in mainstream schools.
The Pupil Premium funding is paid to schools and is used to provide additional educational support to improve the progress and to raise the standard of achievement for these children where appropriate. Children who are entitled to pupil premium may face challenges such as poor language and communication skills, lack of confidence and issues with attendance and punctuality. The pupil premium is intended to benefit the children who are eligible, where necessary, helping to narrow the gap between them and their classmates.
“Closing the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers is the greatest challenge facing English schools. The gap is stubborn because its causes are entrenched and complex, and most lie beyond the control of schools and educators. However, it is clear that schools can make a difference. In England, the gap has closed in both primary and secondary schools since the introduction of the Pupil Premium, and in every part of the country schools have demonstrated how great teaching and careful planning can make a huge impact on the outcomes of disadvantaged children.”
Education Endowment Foundation - The EEF Guide to Pupil Premium
Schools should ensure that the additional funding reaches the children who need it most and that it makes a significant impact on their education and lives.
At St Vincent's we focus on four key areas:
Promoting positive outcomes
Enriching the curriculum
Providing pastoral care
Financial assistance for extra curricular and cultural capital opportunities
There is significant and extensive evidence associating childhood social and emotional skills with improved outcomes at school and in later life. With this in mind we have a significant focus on promoting and ensuring positive mental health throughout the school. Mrs Gee and Mrs E Sutton provide Pastoral support are and have undertaken training in a range of different issues affecting children's mental health and wellbeing. Teachers can refer children to the Pastoral Care team and children can self-refer through Natter Notes or informal chats. There are some timetables Pastoral sessions during the week for individuals and small groups as well as time available when children are in need.
Ms Carr supports pupils across the school in receipt of Pupil Premium where necessary. This support involves activities such as:
Curriculum support individually or in small groups,
Consolidation of previous learning,
Pre-teaching of vocabulary,
Coaching and booster sessions,
Additional challenge and extension work.
Outcomes for our pupils remain our priority and work is targeted so that pupils reach their individual potential.
To monitor progress, regular meetings are held with Senior Management, teachers and the Pupil Premium lead with input from any TAs delivering intervention to discuss not only the academic attainment of the child, but the take up of enrichment and extra curriculum activities and any other issues affecting the child.
At St Vincent's Catholic Primary School, the usual cycle of data collection and the monitoring and tracking of children's attainment within their cohort is used to inform pupil progress and enable the early identification of need, support and appropriate intervention. Review meetings take place at each milestone (approximately every term).
Pupil Premium Funding and the impact of this is a regular item on the agenda for governors' meetings and governors receive training and updates.
Designated Staff Member in charge - Mrs Farrell (Deputy Headteacher)
Pupil Premium Teacher - Ms Carr
Nominated Governor - Mrs Kilburn
