At Woodchurch CE Primary School, we have high aspirations and ambitions for all of our children and believe that no child should be left behind. We are committed to ensuring that every child has the chance to reach their full potential and truly “let their light shine.”

What is Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the Government to help schools close the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. It is designed to ensure that children facing barriers to learning are given the support they need to achieve well.

The Department for Education explains:

“The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.”

Who is Eligible?

Your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium funding if they:

• Have been registered for Free School Meals at any point in the last six years

• Have been looked after by the Local Authority for more than six months

• Are a child of service personnel

How We Use Pupil Premium Funding

At Woodchurch CE Primary, we carefully plan how to use this funding to support learning and wellbeing. This may include:

• Providing additional teaching or small group interventions

• Offering enrichment opportunities to widen experiences and raise aspirations

• Supporting access to school trips, clubs and other activities

• Investing in resources to improve progress in reading, writing and maths

• Providing emotional and pastoral support for children and families

Our Pupil Premium Strategy has been developed using national research, including the Education Endowment Foundation’s Teaching and Learning Toolkit, to ensure funding is used in ways proven to have the greatest impact.

Working in Partnership with Families

We want every eligible family to benefit from this funding. If you think your child may be entitled to Free School Meals (and therefore Pupil Premium), please get in touch. Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and already receives a Universal Free School Meal, registering could still bring additional funding to the school to support your child.

If you are unsure, Mrs Ridley, Mrs Burlton or Mrs Butcher are available for a confidential conversation to discuss eligibility and how this funding could help your child.

Further Information

• Our annual Pupil Premium Strategy Statement sets out how the funding is spent and the impact it has on pupils.

• You can also read the Ofsted guidance on how schools across the country use the funding to raise achievement.

• For more details about Pupil Premium nationally, visit the DfE Website.