Pupil Premium
What is the Pupil Premium Grant?
The Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is funding allocated to schools for the specific purpose of boosting the attainment of pupils from low-income families. Funding is based on: children who have registered for a free school meal at any point in the last 6 years; children that have been in care (LAC) for one day or more; and children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces.
Why has it been introduced?
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium (which is additional to main school funding) is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their wealthier peers. The funding intends to tackle disadvantage by targeting the pupils who need it most. Whilst schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit, we are required to publish online information about how we have used the Pupil Premium.
Context
Dukesgate Academy is a smaller than average primary school in one of the most deprived areas of Salford. At Dukesgate Academy we aim to ensure that all pupils make good progress. All indicators and proxy-indicators show us to be a school that supports pupils who have a range of significant challenges and barriers to success. Deprivation is significantly greater than national average, proportions of pupils with SEND are greater than national figures and the number of pupils eligible for free school meals is significantly above national average.
What are the main barriers to educational achievement at Dukesgate?
-
Social and economic factors, including limited life experiences
-
Safeguarding, social and emotional barriers which impact on learning, wellbeing and attendance
-
Low baseline of attainment on entry to Early Years
-
Speech and language development
-
Low aspirations or value for education
What actions did we take to overcome these barriers and why?
-
Funding for a full time Pastoral Leader to support vulnerable and targeted pupils, ensuring emotional needs are met and pupils access learning
-
Funding an additional experienced teacher to work in Early Years & Key Stage 1 to support targeted pupils in identified areas of learning
-
Funding an additional senior teacher to support targeted pupils
-
Funding Play Therapist to support vulnerable and targeted pupils, ensuring emotional needs are met.
-
Purchasing additional hours from the Educational Psychology Service to ensure swift and targeted support for identified vulnerable children
-
Purchasing Speech and Language Therapy to work in Early Years for one day per week throughout the year
-
Employing a skilled teaching assistant to work with senior staff, support vulnerable pupils and deliver therapeutic play-based interventions to promote wellbeing for those children who have experienced trauma and loss
-
Funding for a Breakfast Club to ensure a settled start to the day for all pupils
-
Subsidising a week’s outdoor and adventurous holiday for year 6 to enhance their life experiences and provide access regardless of socio-economic status
-
Subsidising trips, visits, extra-curricular clubs and enrichment activities for all pupils to inspire and encourage their love of learning
Conclusion
Dukesgate will continue to use the PPG to further narrow the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
Internal data, prior to the coronavirus closure, indicated that the PPG was having a positive impact on pupil outcomes.
All actions identified in the Pupil Premium Strategy will continue for the academic year 2023-24.
For the Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2023-24 click here.