Background

The Pupil Premium is allocated to schools to support them in raising attainment amongst disadvantaged pupils and closing any gaps that might exist between them and their peers.

The school’s Pupil Premium funding allocation is calculated on the basis of the number of children identified as:

• having been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any time in the last 6 years;
• having been  continuously in local authority care for more than six months;
• being the children of service personnel.

For the 2022-23 academic year, the funding also took account of the Recovery Premium which is being paid to school's to help mitigate the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on learning and outcomes for children.

Whilst the funding allocation is determined by the criteria set out above, it is not ring-fenced to specific individual children. The DfE has given schools the freedom to use the Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium as they see fit based upon their knowledge of pupil needs. The school must be able to demonstrate that the specific needs of the identified pupils have been addressed and how this funding is being used to combat and compensate for disadvantage in academic attainment/progress and wider aspects of school life.

Principles

The targeted and strategic use of Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium will help us to achieve our vision and improve outcomes for all pupils in both their learning and other aspects of their growth and development, particularly for those pupils from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

In deciding how to use the Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium funding, the school will:

• Ensure that funding allocated to our school is used solely for its intended purpose.
• Ensure that teaching and learning opportunities meet the needs of all the pupils.
• Ensure that, where possible, decisions around provision and expenditure are informed by current empirical research. Using the latest evidence-based research on strategies, approaches and interventions which are proven to narrow the attainment gap, will ensure that provision is specifically designed to meet the needs of our pupils.
• Ensure that appropriate provision is made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups. This includes ensuring that the needs of disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and addressed.
• Recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged or low-attaining. Equally, not all pupils who are disadvantaged and/or of low attainment are registered or qualify for free school meals. The school therefore reserves the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding in any manner which it believes is fair to support any pupil or group of pupils the school has legitimately identified as being disadvantaged.
• Where relevant, allocate funding in accordance with a needs analysis. Limited funding and resources means that the school may not be able to meet the needs of all eligible/target children at any given time.
• Be transparent in our reporting of how we have used the Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium.
• Ensure that there is robust monitoring and evaluation in place to account for the use of the Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium involving the Pupils, School and Curriculum Development Committee of the school's Governing Body.

Provision

At Darrick Wood Junior School we will use the Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium to fund those activities/interventions which are the most effective in raising the attainment and improving outcomes for the most vulnerable pupils. In identifying which activities/interventions are the most effective, the school will consider both the latest evidence and research nationally alongside the school’s own research and intervention impact analyses.

These activities/interventions might include:

• Professional development to improve staff knowledge/expertise and further raise the standard of Quality First Teaching in every classroom.
• 1:1 tuition provided by a qualified teacher delivering a personalised learning programme.
• Small group intervention support provided by an experienced member of the school's teaching/support staff focused on overcoming identified gaps in leaning.
• Specialist support to develop personal and social skills.
• Pastoral support to improve self-esteem, engagement aspirations and attendance.
• Enrichment activities.
• Support and training for staff in developing provision to meet needs amongst identified pupils and across the school as a whole.

All our work through the Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium will be primarily aimed at accelerating progress, moving children to at least age related expectations. It may also be used to support the accelerated progress and improved attainment of more able pupils. Where Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium is used to secure non-academic outcomes, impact will be defined in terms of alternative criteria as appropriate.

Reporting

It will be the responsibility of the Headteacher, or a delegated member of staff, to produce regular written reports on Pupil Premium expenditure.

Each report will set out:

• An outline of the provision that has been put in place using Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium funding.
• Details of expenditure associated with this provision.
• An evaluation of the impact of each aspect of provision, particularly in terms of the progress made by the pupils receiving a particular provision.
• Recommendations for future provision where relevant.

The Governing Body of the school will ensure that there is an annual statement on the impact of Pupil Premium/Recovery Premium expenditure in ‘narrowing the gap’ for disadvantaged pupils, which can be viewed on the school website.