Pupil Premium & Recovery Premium Funding

Pupil Premium was introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2011, as additional funding for pupils that fall into one of the following categories:

  • Low-income families
  • Looked After Children
  • Armed Forces families.

Joydens Wood Infant School recognises that providing children with a range of experiences which ensure they have the essential knowledge to prepare them for their future success, enables them to have the best possible start to their early education (cultural capital). It is essential for us to ensure our curriculum enhances the opportunities available to all pupils but, in particular, the most disadvantaged.

The Pupil Premium Funding is just one way that supports us in making that possible. The funding is additional to the School’s Main Budget and the DfE have stated that schools have the right to spend this funding as they see fit based upon their knowledge of pupil needs. At Joydens Wood Infant School, the funding is used to target inequalities and support the learning and personal development of the most vulnerable children. We do this in a number of ways but, primarily, through the support and provision implemented by Miss Freeman, our Pupil Premium Leader and our Operations & Safeguarding Manager, Mrs Adams, and through our Social, Emotional and Mental Health Provision, and Quality First Teaching.

The support provided for disadvantaged children is extensive and includes, but is not exhaustive of: bespoke interactions and supportive intervention for our most vulnerable pupils, direct support and communication with our parents, whether it is a simple reassuring conversation, assistance with completing paperwork for outside agencies, signposting to external resources, providing parent forums, being available at school events or working closely with our NHS Wellbeing Practitioner, who attends our school once a week.

The support provided is extensive and includes, but is not exhaustive of: bespoke interactions and supportive intervention for our most vulnerable pupils, direct support and communication with our parents, whether it is a simple reassuring conversation, assistance with completing paperwork for outside agencies, signposting to external resources, providing parent forums, being available at weekly Afternoon Teas or working closely with our NHS Wellbeing Practitioner, who attends our school once a week.

Our Social, Emotional and Mental Health Provision targets children’s personal development through a range of carefully planned interventions, such as:

  • Draw and Talk
  • LEGO Therapy
  • Emotional Literacy Groups
  • Social Skills Groups

These interventions target children’s personal, social and emotional development, with particular emphasis on their social communication skills, understanding their own and other’s emotions, working in a team and learning how to effectively communicate their wants and needs in a small group, turn-taking situation. All of these skills are then carefully monitored regarding their transference back into the classroom and into natural social situations.

Pupil Premium at Joydens Wood Infant School

As a high achieving school set within the context of a deprivation indicator that is below the national, there is the potential challenge that less advantaged pupils do not have the same starting point, experiences or support as their peers.  Recognising some of these differences, we are very clear in our vision that, whilst learning is essential to expenditure, promoting well-being and personal development is imperative for children to be able to effectively access any learning. At Joydens Wood Infant School we work to enable every child to thrive and succeed. Our pastoral care and in-depth knowledge of our pupils helps us to identify any children who are at risk of not making sufficient progress.

The main barriers to learning for our Pupil Premium and disadvantaged children are: home lives which require support from external agencies, children being persistently absent or late to school and parents not seeing the benefit of completing the paperwork to receive Pupil Premium Funding until the children are in the Junior School due to the provision of Universal Infant Free School Meals.

With smaller numbers of Pupil Premium eligible pupils, value for money is central to sustained improvements. Our school improvement planning includes clear systems to ensure that any additional funding will impact on children entitled to Pupil Premium. Our Pupil Premium Strategy sets out the evidence base used in making decisions on additional intervention strategies that will be put in place and how they will be monitored, evaluated and adapted.

How can parents and carers contribute to the success of the Pupil Premium scheme?

Parental support and involvement is a key factor in raising standards. If you would like help or advice in supporting your child, Miss Freeman (Pupil Premium Leader) and Mrs Adams (Operations & Safeguarding Manager) is contactable by phone or via the school’s website. Alternatively, you can always ask your class teacher or email info@joydens.org for more information.

As a parent or carer of a child who is entitled to Pupil Premium, termly Parent – Teacher consultations will provide a good opportunity to review children’s progress and the intervention strategies that have been used.

As an infant school child, they are all part of Universal Infant Free School Meals however it is worth registering them, even if they are not going to have a school lunch.  It will have a direct impact on the funding the school receives and will maximise the support we can provide.

Parents can register their child for Pupil Premium if they are in receipt of any 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 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)
  • Universal Credit

Please use the link on the left to apply online or contact the school office for more support/information.