Pupil premium is earmarked funding that was introduced by the Government in 2011 and is aimed at children from deprived backgrounds in order to help narrow the educational gap between these children and their peers. 

Pupil premium pupils are defined as those known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) in the previous six years, as indicated in any termly or annual school census, children looked-after by the local authority, those adopted from care and children whose parents are in the Armed Forces.

Rationale:

Rivers ESC strives to identify pupils entitled to pupil premium funding from date of admission.   Every child, considered to be entitled to pupil premium or not, is encouraged to reach their full potential irrespective of their circumstances.

Pupil premium funding will be used to provide additional support for both the academic and social emotional needs in order to raise attainment and aspirations of these young people.

Effective use of the Pupil Premium funding:

• Pupil premium funding will be identifiable within the Centre’s budget
• The pupil premium team and SLT will analyse the needs of entitled children and put strategies in place accordingly
• In making provision for pupil premium children, we recognise that not all pupils who receive FSM will be socially disadvantaged or underachieving.  We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged will qualify for FSM due to not meeting the stringent criteria.   We therefore reserve the right to allocate the pupil premium funding to support any pupil(s) that the Centre deems to be disadvantaged.
• Strategies in place will be tracked and monitored for effectiveness at pupil premium meetings

School objectives of the pupil premium funding:

1. Improvement in pupil attitude to self and school
2. Opportunities are created to celebrate pupil’s successes with their families.
3. Pupils are ambitious for their futures and are supported with next steps.
4. Pupil’s engage positively with the community
5. Attendance of pupil premium pupils is within 5% of the rest of the cohort

Who is eligible for free school meals?

Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of,

one or more of the following benefits:

 

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than

£7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment

periods)

• 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 guarantee 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for

Working Tax Credit

Free school meals | Hertfordshire County Council

Tel: 0300 123 4048