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The Pupil Premium Grant is an additional sum of money paid to the school to support looked after children and those eligible for free school meals.

One of the key aims of the funding is to ‘narrow the gap’ in terms of achievement for vulnerable groups of children. It can be difficult to show immediate cause and effect after initiatives but we feel that if students are engaged, responding and happy, their capacity to learn and progress will increase. We also want to provide better access to educational experiences to remove barriers to learning.

Although many of our students qualify to attract Pupil Premium, Victoria Education Centre did not receive funding for the academic year 2014/15. We received one payment of £1600 which relates to one looked after student for 2015/16. In September 2016 we received a payment of £8085.00 which relates to 7 students from one Local Authority. In January 2017 we received a payment of £1870 for 2 students from another Local Authority. A payment of £6765.00 was received in April 2017 for 6 students from a further Local Authority and a payment of £8,470 was received in May 2018 which relates to 8 students. In addition, some of our students who have respite care are designated as LAC but do not receive the funding. We continue to pursue this entitlement for our students.

Payments received to date have been used to support general targeted actions and individual intervention. These include:

• Communication and literacy intervention sessions
• iPads, including protective cases to assist accessing the curriculum and to promote communication and interaction
• A Coomber PA music/listening centre system to improve literacy and comprehension skills
• A standing frame for maintaining and improving physical functionality
• Sessions with a student counsellor and/or music therapist to develop confidence, self-esteem, well-being and outcomes
• Peripatetic music lessons
• Sensory equipment to ‘engage’ students in play and develop more communication
• Cogmed working memory training
• Part funding to support access to enrichment activities, music therapy, horse riding residential visits and specialist resources
• Part fund a touch screen (TAPit) to improve curriculum access and communication
• Speech recognition (talk to type) software to support writing skills
• BSL specific stories and programmes
• Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition to support increasing confidence and independence

What is the Early Years Pupil Premium?

It is additional funding provided from the Government to support three and four year olds early education. If your child is eligible, your childcare setting (nursery, pre-school, nursery class or registered childminder) can claim up to £300 a year to support your child’s individual learning.

Who is eligible for Pupil Premium?

Being a Non-Maintained Special School this funding is given at the Local Authorities discretion. Therefore, by registering your child as eligible for FSM may bring funding into school to help your child achieve. Please be assured we will do our utmost to obtain the funding and information you share with us will not be used for any other purpose.

Pupil premium is allocated to pupils from low income families and the eligibility check is identical to the Free School Meals eligibility check. Qualifying benefits are as follows:

• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based)
• Employment and Support Allowance (income-based)
• Child Tax Credit based on income below £16,190
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Asylum Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Working Tax Credit ‘run on’ (this is the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Families who receive any level of Working Tax Credit are not entitled to free school meals.

How do I apply for Pupil Premium?

If your child is in Year 3 or above and you have already applied for free school meals, you do not need to do anything more. If your child is in early education, Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, you should contact your Local Authority:

• Poole – has a Pupil Premium Application form which needs to be returned to the Free School Meals and Education Transport Team or you can Email
• Bournemouth – for further information or assistance contact General Enquiries 01202 451451 or the Early Education Funding Team on: 01202 456231 or you can Email
• Dorset – request parents submit a free school meals online application to apply for pupil premium for your school. Submitting an application will have no effect on your child’s free school meal. Please visit their website

If you have any questions about Pupil Premium Funding then please contact the school office.

For more information on Pupil Premium visit the GOV.UK website.