Northdown Primary School is committed to ensuring that all children have equal life chances. We recognise that many children come to us from low socio-economic backgrounds and we are dedicated to ensuring that this is never a barrier to learning. Our values of Harmony, Curiosity, Courage, Determination & Aspiration are an integral part of our hopes for the children. Pupil Premium Grant is used effectively to ensure that disadvantaged children receive the same entitlement as their non-disadvantaged peers. These are our key principles for diminishing the difference between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged children.

1. Achievement gaps between any groups in any subject are viewed as symptoms, rather than problems themselves. We constantly strive to improve teaching for all.
2. We know the specific barriers of our disadvantaged children and plan to overcome these accordingly.
3. We remember that ‘limited experience’ is not the same as ‘low ability’ and we aim to develop the cultural capital of our children.
4. We instill a love of learning and give children the confidence to do it. We provide a broad and balanced curriculum with particular investment in the Arts to develop confidence and build cultural capital such as our linked work with the Turner Contemporary.
5. A consistent approach to ‘learning to learn’ is embedded throughout the school. Children understand the learning process and articulate how to be effective learners.
6. Teaching and Learning always come first. Teachers have ownership of their practice and every member of the school is part of a professional learning community, constantly seeking to improve

What is Pupil Premium Funding?

The Pupil Premium (PP) is a grant funding and is in addition to the school’s Delegated Budget. It is allocated to children from low-income families who are eligible for free school meals, children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, and those from families with parents in the armed forces. Pupil Premium funding is used to raise attainment, promote social skills, independent learning, and positive behaviour in order to increase the life chances of these disadvantaged pupils and diminish the difference between them and their non-eligible peers.

The Government believes that the Pupil Premium is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers by ensuring that the funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most. In most cases, the PP is allocated to schools and is clearly identifiable. It is for the school to decide how the PP is spent. However, schools will be held accountable for how they have used the additional funding to support pupils from low-income families.

At Northdown Primary:

• We ensure that teaching and learning opportunities meet the needs of all pupils.
• We ensure that appropriate provision is made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups.
• In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged.
• We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals.

How much Pupil Premium money does Northdown Primary School receive?

• Funding for 2016/17: £253,440
• Funding for 2017/18: £270,600
• Funding for 2018/19: £270,000
• Funding for 2019/20: £252,000
• Funding for 2020/21: £246,000

How is the money spent?

We recognise that Quality First teaching is the best provision we can offer our children to raise achievement. In addition to providing high-quality training and support for our staff to ensure that they have the skills, knowledge, and understanding to provide the best possible education for all, we ensure that the provision is in place using the most appropriate/qualified members of staff. This will maximize the impact that our spending has on the progress, attainment, attendance, and general well-being of our children. Part of the money is spent on extra staffing so that class sizes are smaller. The Pupil Premium makes additional intervention programs possible for students who do not make enough progress. Intervention programs are based around in-class, small group, or one-to-one support, not just focusing on core academic skills, but also pastoral or attendance support.

We also allocate part of the funding to provide students with enrichment activities, such as trips and visits. The decision on how the funding is spent is based on research that shows, which strategies work best and are most likely to have the greatest impact.

How will parents know how the money is spent?

The progress of all students is tracked throughout the year where the assessment points quickly allow us to check what impact interventions are making. If a student takes place in an intervention program we track the impact throughout to measure improvement.

How can you get more information?

For more information please contact Mr. Harris (Headteacher) and if you are not sure whether your child is eligible for Free School Meals or would like more information about how you should go about claiming an entitlement, please contact School Reception, in confidence.

For further information from the DfE, please click here

Department for Education Articles and advice for children and young people.

Pupil Premium Spending – Statements and Impact