Thorpedene Primary School
Pupil Premium
Policy
Reviewed October 2015
Signed by Chair of Governors
Date:
Pupil Premium
What is the Pupil Premium?
The Pupil Premium is a government grant, introduced in April 2011 that targets extra money at pupils from
deprived backgrounds. Research shows that these pupils generally underachieve compared to their peers. The
premium is given to schools so that they can provide additional support for these pupils and ensure they reach
their potential.
The Government calculates how much Pupil Premium money each school receives by looking at the number
of children at the school who are registered for free school meals, and at the number of children in local
authority care. These are used as general indicators of deprivation. The school then receives a fixed amount of
money per pupil registered for free school meals or in care.
The Government is not dictating how schools should spend this money, but schools have to show that they
are using it effectively to narrow the achievement gap between children from deprived backgrounds and
others. School performance tables will now include information about the attainment of pupils from deprived
backgrounds compared with their peers.
Thorpedene Primary School – Pupil Premium Policy
School Aims
At Thorpedene Primary School, our mission is to provide a high quality education, through partnerships
between children, staff, home and the wider community in an inspiring and secure environment enabling all
children to achieve their potential as independent learners.
Aims of this policy
We aim to ensure that every child leaves Thorpedene Primary School excited about learning and determined
to succeed. We want to equip them with confidence, resilience and a passion for learning throughout their
lives. These qualities will enable them to thrive and to champion kindness and fairness at all stages of their
future lives.
The targeted and strategic use of Pupil Premium funding will support us in achieving our aims.
Principles

We ensure that teaching and learning opportunities meet the needs of all pupils.
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
We ensure that appropriate provision is made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups.
This specifically includes ensuring that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are addressed.

In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that not all pupils who are eligible
for free school meals, (or have been eligible in the last 6 years) are socially disadvantaged.

We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free
school meals. We therefore allocate Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil or groups of pupils
that the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged.
Pupil Premium funding will be allocated following Pupil Premium Review Days, which will identify priority
classes and groups. This is based on teacher P.P Class grids / staff knowledge/ data/ needs of individuals and
where relevant, family and community needs.
Provision
We have a range of provision in place to support children who belong to vulnerable groups, including those
who are socially disadvantaged. This provision has the full support of the Governing Body and includes:

Providing small group work with a member of staff on overcoming gaps in learning.

1-1 support with a member of our Learning Mentor team to meet individual needs.

Additional teaching and learning opportunities provided by teachers, TAs or external agencies.

Additional support for assessments, training and advice from specialists such as speech therapists,
educational psychologists etc.

Access to therapeutic interventions and advice.

Paying for activities that broaden the curriculum such as theatre visits/ visits to school and
supplementing monies for school trips to ensure that no child is excluded from a trip due to inability to
meet the cost.

Additional learning opportunities outside of the school day e.g Rocket Days.

Developing sporting opportunities to develop a “healthy body and healthy mind approach.”
Impact
All our work funded by the Pupil Premium will be aimed at accelerating progress and improving wellbeing to
create the right environment for children so that;

The vast majority (at least 75%) of children leave Thorpedene Primary School at or above the national
average or having met their relevant targets for learning.

Every child makes progress that is good or better, so that they leave having made at least 8 APS
progress over KS1 and at least 12 (or 2 levels) from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2.

There are no significant gaps between the achievement of pupils from disadvantaged groups and other
pupils.
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Reporting
The Deputy Headteacher will produce annual reports for the Governors’ curriculum committee on:

The progress made towards narrowing the gap, by year group, for socially disadvantaged pupils.

An outline of the provision.

An evaluation of the cost effectiveness, in terms of the progress made by the pupils receiving a
particular provision, when compared with other forms of support.
The Governors of the school will ensure that there is an annual impact statement to parents and carers on
how the Pupil Premium funding has been used to address the issue of ‘narrowing the gap’, for socially
disadvantaged pupils. This statement will be published on our school website.
Appeal
Any appeals against this policy will be through the Governors’ complaints procedure.
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