Pupil Premium at Wheldon Infant School and Nursery

Rationale

All children at all levels must fulfil their potential and this is fostered here at Wheldon through high expectations and high-quality Learning and Teaching, which is at the heart of everything we do.

 Our curriculum is constantly reviewed and changed to ensure it meets the needs of all children, to inspire and excite learning. Our teaching is consistently excellent and is the main focus for raising attainment.

 We believe that all children should reach their potential regardless of their background. All our staff at Wheldon are employed to make a difference to all children, to help improve life chances and ensure all, regardless of background achieve their potential. We at Wheldon have the highest expectations of ourselves and all our children.

 Pupil Premium funding is allocated to schools based upon the number of children on roll from low income families who are currently known to be eligible for free school meals or have been eligible over the last six years. It also includes children that are ‘looked after’. The funding is provided for the specific purpose of increasing attainment and progress of these groups of children. An additional premium is provided based upon the number of pupils who have a parent working for the armed services. This service premium is designed to address the emotional and social well-being of these pupils.

 Pupil premium is a significant amount in the budget and we are committed to ensuring maximum effect.

 Barriers for Pupil Premium children can be here at Wheldon:

• Weak language and communication skills
• Poor Literacy and Numeracy skills
• Low aspirations and less support at home
• Troubled families
• Lack of confidence and low self esteem
• Poor attendance and punctuality
• Movement between schools 

 In recent years many of our pupil premium children have entered school with attainment well below what is typical for their age. The challenges are varied and often there are individual issues. At Wheldon we look at the challenges each pupil premium child faces and we endeavour to tailor our provision to meet individual need. Not all children eligible for free school meals are low attaining. Some free school meal children are higher attaining and do not have certain barriers to learning, so we use our Pupil Premium funding to meet their needs in different ways. Through the use of Pupil Premium we aim to narrow the gap between pupil groups, but in particular we aim to raise attainment for all. We aim for all children to make at the very least good, but often accelerated progress from their starting points. Some of our Pupil Premium children at Wheldon also have additional ‘special educational needs’.

Our culture here at Wheldon believes in ALL children and that there are no excuses for under performance. All staff know who the Pupil Premium and vulnerable children are and we tailor our provision to meet the needs of all children.

Underachievement is tackled at all levels and children’s individual needs are carefully considered to support everyone to do their very best.

 We will:

• Have a collective sense of mission where all our stakeholders are committed to ensuring that every child deserves an excellent education where learning is irresistible regardless of background or barrier to learning.
• Have clarity of purpose focusing Pupil Premium on pupil need.
• Prioritise staff well-being as disadvantaged children are disproportionately affected by staff absence.
• Identify individual as well as whole school barriers to learning and investigate whether individuals have multiple barriers.
• Ensure that high quality wave 1 teaching is offered to all pupils daily.
• Be consistent, share good practice, assess regularly and address any under-performance.
• Where intervention is necessary, there is a culture here at Wheldon of early, focused, precise and time-limited intervention delivered by high quality teachers and teaching assistants.
• Ensure pupil premium and the progress and needs of our children are regularly discussed at staff meetings.
• Ensure all our teaching staff know which children in their classes are regarded as disadvantaged.
• Provide early intervention in the Early Years foundation Stage.
• Provide individualised additional reading support 
• Small group phonics teaching through RWI
• Provide emotional coaching and support to individuals and small groups.
• Higher ability focus groups to ensure even our highest ability disadvantaged children further their attainment and educational potential with increased challenge.
• Improve attendance and late arrivals.
• Provide support for parents and work in partnership with them on how they can help their child.
• Listen to the views of children and parents/carers.

Eligibility

 If you are in receipt of the following benefits your child could be eligible for Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) funding. This is additional funding given to support children in school. Currently this is £1320 per child.

Income support

Income based job seekers allowance

Guarantee element of state pension credit

Child tax credit (with an income exceeding £16900) and not receiving working tax credit

Support under part VI of the immigration and asylum act 1999

Employment support allowance

If you think you may be eligible please fill in the form below and return to school.