Pupil Premium

The pupil premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers.

It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium, allocated to schools per FSM pupil, is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.” Source – DfE website

Pupil Premium at New Horizons Children’s Academy

At New Horizons Children’s Academy, we have high aspirations and ambitions for our children and we believe that no child should be left behind. We strongly believe that it is not about where you come from but your passion and thirst for knowledge, and your dedication and commitment to learning that make the difference between success and underachievement.

We are determined to ensure that our children are given every chance to realise their full potential. Pupil premium funding, along with allocations made from the schools own budget will help ensure this money is spent to maximum effect.

Pupil Premium Spending

Our pupil premium money has been used to provide a range of additional support for our children and these interventions, along with quality first teaching have started to have a positive impact on children’s attainment and self-belief.

Through targeted interventions we are working hard to eliminate barriers to learning and progress. One of the school’s aims is to ensure that ALL groups of pupils make good progress in order to reach age related expectations as they move through the school.

Targeted support is being provided through one-to-one and small group tuition. These interventions support children in knowing where they are and what they need to do to improve their work.

Increasing Parental Engagement has also been a focus at the school.  A range of learning opportunities have been provided to help parents develop their own skills in English and maths – to make them better equipped at supporting their children at home.

Information to be published to parents

Schools are required to publish their ‘PUPIL PREMIUM STRATEGY.’

This should include:

  1. In the previous academic year:
  • how the pupil premium allocation was spent
  • the impact of the expenditure on eligible and other pupils

This evaluation can be found in the Pupil Premium Strategy 2019-2020

  1. The current academic year:
  • the amount of the school’s allocation of pupil premium grant
  • details of the main barriers to educational achievement
  • how the allocation will be spent to address the barriers and why these approaches were taken
  • how the school will measure the impact of the pupil premium
  • the date of the next pupil premium strategy review.

How will the school measure the impact of the Pupil Premium?

To monitor progress on attainment, new measures have been included in the performance tables that will capture the achievement of pupils covered by the Pupil Premium. At New Horizons Children’s Academy School, the usual cycle of data collection and the monitoring and tracking of the cohort’s attainment, will be used to inform pupil progress and enable the early identification of need, support and appropriate intervention. Review meetings will take place at each milestone (approximately every 7 weeks) and will include a member of Senior Management, teachers, TAs, Inclusion manager and the Pupil Premium Teacher.

At each milestone, the school will review the impact of actions taken and will plan for how the funding will be specifically allocated over the next phase. When selecting pupils for Pupil Premium target groups, the school will look at all pupils across the school. There are some pupils who are not eligible for PP who will benefit from these groups if their needs are similar and we believe progress can be made towards individual targets.

Financial year 2023 to 2024

In the 2023 to 2024 financial year, schools will receive the following funding for each child registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years:

  • £1,385 for pupils in reception year to year 6

Schools will also receive £2,410 for each pupil who has left local-authority care because of 1 of the following:

  • adoption
  • a special guardianship order
  • a child arrangements order
  • a residence order

If a pupil has been registered as eligible for free school meals and has also left local-authority care for any of the reasons above, they will attract the £2,410 rate.

Children who have been in local-authority care for 1 day or more also attract £2,410 of pupil premium funding. Funding for these pupils doesn’t go to their school; it goes to the virtual school head (VSH) in the local authority that looks after the child. VSHs are responsible for managing pupil premium funding for looked-after children.

Eligibility for Free School Meals

A parent may wish to check their child’s eligibility for Pupil Premium.

You will need to enter your name, address, national insurance number or asylum support service number.  In addition, you will need to provide your child’s name, date of birth and identify the school they are attending.

You may be eligible to receive free school meals and funding for your child’s school through the pupil premium if you receive one of the following benefits:

  • 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, or 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
  • Universal Credit - if working, your net household income must be less than £7,400 a year (not including any benefits you get)

Pupil Premium is an important payment for schools and a really good opportunity for eligible parents to get even more support for their children in schools.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about Pupil Premium funding and how it is being used to benefit your child, please speak to a member of the Senior Leadership team or the Inclusion Manager.

If you think your child may possibly be eligible for free school meals, even if you don’t want your child to eat school meals, please still complete the online application.  Every child who is eligible generates valuable income for the school and supports children’s progress