HEADS UP

Pupil Premium Information

On 17th July 2019 the DfE released updated guidance on the pupil premium - how much pupil premium funding schools receive, how they should spend it, and how the government holds them to account. The guidance says 'Some of the most effective spending will be on whole school strategies, including improving the quality of teaching, which have the potential to impact positively on all pupils'.

From September 2019 schools are being encouraged to move away from annual reviews and consider a longer-term strategy for pupil premium use. The Teaching Schools Council has produced templates to help schools present their strategy.

The DfE guidance reflects information contained in the recent guidance published by the Education Endowment Foundation on the pupil premium, recommending a tiered approach that balances spend across:

  • supporting training and continuous development to improve the quality of all teaching
  • targeting support for disadvantaged pupils through evidence-based interventions
  • supporting whole-school strategies to improve attendance, behaviour and readiness to learn

Commenting on the pupil premium in this news story, Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman said:

 'The Pupil Premium provides welcome additional funding for schools, recognising those with some of the biggest challenges. The EEF's new guidance on how to spend it rightly emphasises recruiting, retaining and developing great teachers. In order to be effective, the Pupil Premium must not become a cause of unnecessary work for teachers.

Ofsted does not require any school-generated data on the Pupil Premium beyond the school's Pupil Premium strategy and does not require schools to track eligible pupils or provide evidence of closing within school attainment gaps.'

Taylorfitch. Bringing Newsletters to life