Pupil Premium
If your child is eligible for free school meals, their schools may also be entitled to receive a sum of money to boost their learning. This guide explains the allocation of the Pupil Premium for UALS and its pupils.
What is Pupil Premium?
This is based on research showing that pupils from low income families perform less well at school than their peers. Research showed that often, Pupils who are entitled to Pupil Premium face challenges such as poor language and communication skills, less family support, lack of confidence and issues with attendance and punctuality compared to Non-Pupil Premium pupils. The Pupil Premium is intended to directly benefit the pupils who are eligible, helping to narrow the gap between them and their classmates and their peers nationally.
Is your child eligible?
Schools are given a Pupil Premium for:
- Pupils who have qualified for free school meals at any point in the past six years. The school receives [£985] for each of these pupils.
- Pupils who have been looked after under local authority care for more than one day. These school is awarded a premium of [£2410].
- [£320] for pupils of parents serving in the armed forces or retired and on a pension form the armed forces
How is it spent at UALS?
Schools can choose how to spend their Pupil Premium money, as they are best placed to identify what would be of most benefit to the pupils who are eligible.
Common ways in which schools spend their Pupil Premium fund include:
- Extra one-to-one or small-group support for pupils within the classroom.
- Employing extra teaching assistants to work with classes.
- Running catch-up sessions before or after school, for example for pupils who need extra help with particular skills.
- Providing extra tuition for able pupils who receive the Pupil Premium.
- Funding educational trips and visits.
At UALS, Pupil Premium money will be used to support the following areas identified as barriers to success for Pupil Premium pupils:
- Low literacy levels are affecting progress
- Low numeracy levels are affecting progress
- Low attendance has affected progress
- Poor behaviour for learning and social skills
- Emotional and social factors affecting Pupil progress
- A lack of knowledge with regards to different educational pathways and career pathways
- Lack of parental engagement and support for pupils and the school
All schools have to show that they are using their Pupil Premium fund appropriately. This is measured through Ofsted inspections and annual performance tables showing the progress made by pupils who are eligible for Pupil Premium. At UALS the Pupil Premium statement 2021/22 and 2022/2023 (shown below), shows how much money has been allocated, how the academy intends to spend it, how the previous year’s allocation was spent and how it is making a difference to the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.
If your child qualifies for free school meals, it’s important that you tell us – even if they take a packed lunch – as this enables them to claim Pupil Premium.
Pupil Premium 2022 - 2023 Strategy Statement
Pupil Premium 2021 - 2022 Strategy Statement (New Format)
Pupil Premium 2021 - 2022 Statement