Pupil Premium
Hyrstmount Junior School is committed to ensuring maximum progress for all groups of children and strives to close any gaps in achievement. We recognise that all children, regardless of background, should have equal access to a curriculum which will enable them to achieve their full potential.
What is Pupil Premium?
The Government believes that Pupil Premium funding, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current inequalities by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantages reaches the young people who need it most.
The purpose of the extra funding is to provide additional resources from outside the school’s budget to accelerate progress and raise attainment for these learners. It is the school’s decision as to how the Pupil Premium is spent, as schools are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual learners in their care. Schools are held accountable for how they use the additional funding.
Who is targeted by the Pupil Premium?
Children who are deemed to be ‘disadvantaged’ - eligible or have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point over the past six years or have been looked after for one day or more (Child Looked After).
A provision is also made for children who have a parent/carer in the armed services.
What do we do at Hyrstmount Junior School?
All learners are entitled to the very best curriculum and learning opportunities, whatever their level of ability, so we ensure that our disadvantaged learners receive help when they find learning difficult, but are also offered challenges in areas where they excel. We also ensure they have the very best resources and enrichment opportunities, through visits to places of interest. Pupil Premium spending is reviewed and evaluated each year. Future priorities are made in response to new research as well as the school’s self-evaluation processes.
We have a clear, strategic approach to the use of specific Pupil Premium funding and plans are integrated into wider school support and improvement systems. These are monitored and evaluated regularly, and in-depth data analysis ensures that the correct support and strategies are identified to maximise progress.
This additional funding is provided by the Government, because research suggests that children from low-income families perform less well at school than their peers. The Government recognises that often, children who are entitled to Pupil Premium face challenges, such as: poor language and communication skills, less family support, lack of confidence and issues with attendance and punctuality. The pupil premium is intended to directly benefit those children who are eligible.