Pupil Premium
What is pupil premium?
Pupil Premium (PP) is a government initiative that provides additional funding to disadvantaged pupils. Research shows that pupils from deprived backgrounds underachieve compared to their non-deprived peers. So the PP initiative was started to help schools closethe attainment gap between pupils from low income families and their peers. The government use pupils entitled to free school meals and looked after children, as indicators of deprivation, and provide a fixed amount of funding per pupil.
School context
When making decisions about PP funding it is important to consider the context of the school and the subsequent challenges pupils may face. Stanton Vale is a special school for children aged 2-19. It is located in Long Eaton and currently there are 97 pupils on roll. 39% of the pupils at Stanton Vale are PP or classified as a Looked after Child (LAC). Stanton Vale caters for pupils with a diverse range of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and as such the additional support we offer to each PP pupil is uniquely tailored to their individual needs and barriers to learning. We recognise that at Stanton Vale pupil attainment is predominantly
influenced by pupils’ SEN, rather than by social deprivation. But staff at Stanton Vale are committed to all pupils achieving their full potential, regardless of SEN or background and always look for new and innovative ways pupils can be supported and challenged.
Strategy
To make effective use of PP funding Stanton Vale analyses pupils’ attainment data to identify trends and spend the funding most effectively in areas it is needed. However, we recognise that some pupils at Stanton Vale have complex medical needs, and most pupils have impairments in communication, cognition, mobility, social interaction and sensory processing. As a result of this, many factors, including external factors, can influence pupils’ attainment. Therefore, to ensure we gain a holistic and accurate picture of pupils’ barriers to learning, we also analyse pupils’ behaviour, vulnerability, attendance and engagement. This way we ensure that pupils are thriving socially and emotionally, as well as academically. Data analysis is always combined with teacher reports to ensure that the needs of the pupils are accurately identified. Our priority is to ensure every pupil continues to make progress and is able to live as independently as possible when they leave Stanton Vale.
Pupil Premium Champions at Stanton Vale
As part of our strategy to improve outcomes for PP students, each class at Stanton Vale has a designated ‘Pupil Premium Champion’. PP champions are staff members who are passionate about ensuring the best for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and are advocates for our PP pupils. PP champions monitor attainment, attendance, engagement, behaviour and wellbeing. If a pupil is struggling in any area then the PP champion will notify the school PP lead. Together, with the class teacher and parents / carers an assessment will be carried out to ensure that the right interventions, resources or staff training is put in place
to help the pupil succeed.
How we plan our spending
– The PP lead oversees the needs and barriers to learning of all PP pupils across the school and implements whole school Continued Professional Development (CPD) when training needs are identified. Ensuring that all staff are highly skilled and have on-going CPD where it is most needed.
– One size doesn’t ‘fit all’ and in addition to whole school strategies, funding may be spent on individualised strategies, unique to a particular pupil to ensure the best outcome for every pupil.
– Spending decisions are informed by research evidence. When staff make a spending request, they state how their request has been informed research. We use research from a range of sources, including that completed by the Education Endowment Fund (EEF). However, we recognise research done by the EEF may not always be transferable to our pupils with more complex SEN. So we also look at research from experts who specialise in profound and multiple learning difficulties, such as Joanna Grace, Dave Hewett and Penny Lacey.
– Funding will be spent on the following three areas:
1) Teaching. Research shows that high quality teaching is the best lever for improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
2) Academic strategies.
3) Wider strategies. This includes attendance, behaviour, social and emotional support.
How do we know spending is effective and how do we assess the impact?
– Through effective leadership and management. Stanton Vale has a PP lead.
– The PP lead ensures that all staff are consistently aware of the LAC and PP pupils in their classes.
– Through regularly monitoring and reviewing the impact of spending. The PP lead rigorously analyses a range of data, including: attainment, behaviour, attendance and engagement to track and monitor interventions, techniques and pupil progress.
– Teachers are held to account by the PP lead and are required to demonstrate the impact of spending using a range of evidence.
– Interventions are adapted or changed if they are not working.
– We ensure good communication and collaboration between individuals working with PP students through termly progress meetings with the PP lead, PP champions, class teachers and parents / carers.
– Regular feedback about performance is given to parents / carers.
– The PP lead reports annually to governors on pupil progress, the impact of spending and the subsequent action plan