What is Pupil Premium?
The Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011. it was allocated to children who were known to be eligible for free school meals in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings. Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, and children of services personnel.
Why has it been introduced?
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers by ensuring that funding reaches the pupils who need it most.
Who decides on how the money is spent?
In most cases the Pupil Premium is paid directly to schools, allocated to them for every pupil who receives free school meals. Schools decide how to use the funding, as they are best placed to assess what their pupils need.
How are school’s accountable for the spending of Pupil Premium?
Schools are held accountable for the decisions they make through: The performance tables which show the performance of disadvantaged pupils compared with their peers. The new Ofsted inspection framework, under which inspectors focus on the attainment of pupil groups, in particular those who attract Pupil Premium. The new reports for parents that schools now have to publish online.
What can the money be spent on?
The school can spend the money on additional staffing, new resources, support for specific groups, improving the school environment and its buildings as well as staff professional development.