Pupil Premium
At Swinton Fitzwilliam we are determined to ensure that all children achieve and are given the highest standards of teaching and learning through delivering Quality First Teaching (QFT). Evidence strongly suggests that the most effective way to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children is through excellent classroom teaching.
As a school, we carefully consider and plan how to allocate pupil premium money on an annual basis. We take a whole school approach that impacts all pupils; strategies that target under-performing pupils; and specific strategies targeting pupil premium pupils. We have a clear, strategic approach to the use of Pupil Premium funding, and plans are integrated into wider school support and improvement systems backed up with rigourous data analysis and careful considerations of the needs of children within this group.
Recovery Premium Funding
The recovery premium grant is part of the government’s package of funding to support pupils whose education has been impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19).
It is focused on pupil premium eligible pupils because of the additional impact of the pandemic on these students. This includes:
- pupils who are eligible for free school meals (FSM), including eligible children of families who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
- pupils who have been eligible for FSM at any point in the last 6 years
- children looked after by local authorities, referred to as looked-after children (LAC), and children previously looked after by local authorities, referred to as previously looked-after children (PLAC)
However, schools can use it to deliver evidence-based approaches for supporting any pupil based on an assessment of individual need.
In the academic year 22-23, mainstream primary schools will receive £145 per eligible pupil. Funding for looked-after children will be paid to the local authority and should be managed by the virtual school head in consultation with the child’s school.
Below are some frequently asked questions and our yearly strategy statement. This will be reviewed in September 2023.
Pupil premium is funding for schools in England to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. Evidence shows that disadvantaged children generally face additional challenges in reaching their potential at school and often do not perform as well as other pupils.
Schools are given Pupil Premium funding for children that meet the following criteria (information correct for 2022 - 2023):
*Pupils who are eligible for free school meals, or have been eligible in the past 6 years (including eligible children of families with no recourse to public funds). Schools recieve £1385 for each of these children.
*Pupils who have been adopted from care or left care.Schools recieve £2410 for each of these children.
*Children who are looked after by the local authority. Schools recieve £2410 for each of these children.
*Children from service families where one parent is serving in the regular armed forces (including pupils with a parent who is on full commitment as part of the full time reserve service). Schools recieve £320 for each of these children.
In March 2018, the Government announced that free school meals would only be available to children in KS2 whose families have a net income of £7400 or under, effective from 1 April 2018. If your child was previously entitled to free school meals but is no longer, they will still receive pupil premium based on the 'Ever 6' qualification (a pupil who has ever had free school meals in the past six years).
School leaders can choose how to spend their pupil premium money, as they are best placed to identify what would be of most benefit to the children who are eligible. This fund is not designed to be given directly to each child but to support the work of the school in closing the gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged children.
Evidence suggests that pupil premium spending is most effective when used across 3 areas:
- high-quality teaching, such as staff professional development
- targeted academic support, such as tutoring
- wider strategies to address non-academic barriers to success in schools, such as attendance, behaviour, and social and emotional support
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) recommends that schools particularly focus their pupil premium on supporting high-quality teaching.
Often, all of the children in a class will reap some benefit from how the school spends its pupil premium. It is important to note that funding is often used flexibly and creatively within schools and this can vary from year to year. To see more detailed information about how we use the Pupil Premium Grant, please see the reports in the document section.
From April 2018, free school meals and pupil premium will only be allocated to pupils with a family income under £7400 (net) per year.
Please speak to our Office Team who will be able to tell you what you need to do to register your child as eligible. The form is easy to complete and we are very happy to assist with this in a private and sensitive way.
Since September 2014, all children in Reception and Years 1 and 2 have qualified for free school meals, regardless of their family income. This is called Universal Free School Meals.
Only the children who would qualify for free meals under the income-based criteria will receive the pupil premium.
Although your child will be in receipt of a Universal Free School Meal, if you meet the criteria for Free School Meals we would urge you to still complete the application form as this allows us to access vital additional funding to help support your child.
If your child is in KS2, you can claim free school meals if meet certain criteria. Please check Rotherham Council Website for criteria or please speak to our Office Team who will be able to tell you what you need to do to register your child as eligible.
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. This additional funding will help us to support the work of your child.
Updated December 2023
