The Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011 and allocated to provide additional support for looked after children and those from low income families. The extra funding is made available to schools to help them narrow the attainment gap that exists between pupils from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds.

In 2011-12, schools were allocated Pupil Premium funding for children from low income families who were eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) or children who had been looked after continuously for more than six months. From April 2012, eligibility for the Pupil Premium was also extended to include children who had been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as the Ever 6 Free School Meals measure.) A premium has also been introduced for children whose parents are currently serving in the Armed Forces.

Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit. However, they are accountable for how they use the additional funding to support pupils from low income families and the other target groups. New measures have been included in the performance tables that show the achievement of pupils who attract Pupil Premium. From September 2012, schools are required to publish online information about how they have used the Premium and its impact. This will ensure that parents and others are made fully aware of the attainment of pupils covered by the Premium.   

The school is able to demonstrate clear evidence of impact as a result of the allocation of funding to provide additional support for children from low-income families who were eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) or looked after children.

Please refer to our pupil premium strategy report below for details of spending.

The policy has been approved by the Headteacher and Governing Body of Mapledown School as a fair and equitable means of distribution and meets the guidelines laid down by the Education Funding Agency.

Please Download the Strategy aims for disadvantaged pupils, Monitoring and implementation, and the Review: Aims and outcomes below.