Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter their background.
The pupil premium plus (PP+) exists to make sure no looked after child misses out on the enriching experiences schools can provide – from music lessons to school trips. Deciding how to spend the PP+ allowance starts with understanding the specific needs of each child.
Schools are required to demonstrate that their use of PP+ funds is targeted at meeting the social, emotional and educational needs of eligible children.
If a school has just one eligible child, that means their PP+ spending can be targeted specifically to the individual’s needs. Whereas, if there are a number of eligible children, the funding should be spent with the intention of benefitting all pupils who qualify for PP+.
The funding rate for looked-after children and previously looked-after children in the financial year 2023/24 is £2,530 per year. This represents an increase of around five per cent for PP+ rates, compared to the 2022/23 financial year.
Maximising the impact of pupil premium plus
Maximising the impact of the funding can be a challenge. Children have diverse needs, and schools can spend PP+ on a variety of things to meet these requirements. Some examples include:
- Breakfast and lunchtime clubs to nurture strong relationships and provide opportunities for children to practise social skills
- Training lunchtime staff to facilitate structured play
- Supporting emotional literacy through therapeutic services and anger management
- Providing alternatives to detention and isolation, or even appointing an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant
- Setting up safe spaces that students can use at any point throughout the day
- Providing training for staff on understanding and supporting executive functioning skill development
- Developing resources to help children prepare for change, especially the transition from Year 6 to Year 7
- Delivering coaching and tutoring for children who need support with organisation
Pupil premium plus and tutoring
At TLC LIVE, we provide outstanding tutoring for schools, supporting students who may need an extra helping hand. We work with over 50 per cent of the local education authorities in the UK to help disadvantaged children reach their potential. This year, pupil premium plus would fund at least 55 lessons, but could be even more depending on how the lessons are organised.
All our tutors are fully qualified UK teachers so you can have confidence that your students are getting the very best support.
If you’d like to discuss how best to put your PP+ allowance to use to help raise attainment, get in touch with us today.
By Ryan Lockett, director of studies at TLC LIVE