Pupil Premium Information

What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium was introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2011, as additional funding for pupils who received Free School Meals and who are Looked After Children. This is because the DfE have recognised that good education is the key to improving young people’s life chances. This is particularly true for children from low-income families, or who are Looked After Children, who are generally less likely to leave school with good GCSE results compared to other children. The Pupil Premium, using additional resources from outside the School’s Budget, is intended to address the current inequalities by ensuring that funding reaches the pupils who need it most. The DfE have stated that schools have the right to spend this funding as they see fit based upon their knowledge of pupil needs.

Pupil Premium at St Alphege

At St Alphege we believe in inspiring and engaging pupils through a child-led curriculum. We strive for achievement for all our pupils regardless as to their social or economic background. Our pastoral care and rigorous monitoring and tracking of all pupils helps us to identify any pupils who are at risk of not making sufficient progress and has helped us to plan and implement good intervention strategies. With smaller numbers of pupil premium eligible pupils, value for money is central to sustained improvements in both well-being and academic achievement. We take an individualised approach to Pupil Premium spending as different pupils benefit from varying approaches and enrichments. Recognising some of these differences we have been very clear in our vision that, although achievement in academic subjects is vital, learning can happen in a range of guises and pupil well-being, self-worth and belief that they can are imperative for achievement. Therefore, our belief in enabling opportunities in a wide range of experiences such as music lessons, the arts and sporting opportunities are integral to opportunity and entitlement.

The school has a long term strategy statement for Pupil Premium which focusses on making targeted and sustained differences over time. This includes support for identified pupils who may be working below expected levels, or requiring specific intervention to narrow the gaps in their learning or meet their individual needs as well as those who require enrichment or extension activities to ensure they are working towards or at greater depth standard.

Our Pupil Premium Strategy will be reviewed annually where impact will be assessed.

The documents below include a pupil premium strategy document which sets out expenditure for this academic year and the evidence base used in making these decisions.

What can parents/carers do to help and how can you apply?

Parent support and involvement is a key factor in raising standards. If you would like help or advice in supporting your child we run many Parent Workshops and you can always ask your class teacher or email the school office for information.

If you are unsure whether your child is entitled to Pupil Premium, it is worth registering them to find out. If successful, it will have a direct impact on the funding the school receives and we will maximise the support we can provide.

Parents can register their child for the Pupil Premium if they are in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

Parents / carers can apply here:

https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals

If you would like support with applying please speak to a member of the Well-being Team or someone in the school office.