Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium Vision statement

At Grove Wood Primary School, we genuinely believe that every child has the ability to achieve high levels of progress and attainment, relative to their starting points, across all curriculum subject areas. This is irrespective of background and that no child will be left behind due to socio-economic barriers. This will include progress for those who are already high-attainers.

This is encapsulated in the vision of our curriculum to create opportunities, share experiences and make memories. As a school we will provide opportunities to break through barriers by adhering to our core values of Strive, Positivity, Achievement, Respect and Kindness, which demonstrate our high aspirations for all our children, ensuring that pupils achieve their very best, providing them with the stepping stones to thrive.

Key elements (barriers to learning) to our strategy include:

· Developing positive relationships

· Developing independence and independent skills (Meta-cognition and self-regulated learning)

· Inclusion (Social, Emotional and Mental Health)

· Communication (Language Development and Comprehension)

We will consider the challenges faced by all vulnerable pupils and will support their needs regardless of whether they identified as disadvantaged or not. These key elements will drive through the disadvantaged strategy for vulnerable pupils and will be entwined and interwoven through the whole school approach, development plan objectives, monitoring and evaluation cycles, staff development and training, as well as assessment and progress meetings.

As a school we know that if all pupils achieve well then outcomes for those identified as disadvantaged will also be high and closer in line with that of their non-disadvantaged peers. Our approach will be responsive to individuals and groups of learners needs, rooted in robust diagnostic assessment, not assumptions or pre-conceptions about the impact of disadvantage.

We will ensure work is challenging, intervene early and take a whole school approach where responsibility is distributed amongst all stakeholders.

Children eligible for pupil premium are:

• Pupils in year groups EYFS – Year 6 recorded as Ever 6 FSM; 
• Looked-after children (LAC) defined in the Children Act 1989 as one who is in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English local authority;
• Children who have ceased to be looked after by a local authority in England and Wales because of adoption, a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order;
• Pupils in year groups reception to year 11 recorded as Ever 6 Service Child or in receipt of a child pension from the Ministry of Defence.

•          our pupil premium allocation for the current academic year;
•          details of how we intend to spend the allocation;
•          details of how we have spent our previous academic year’s allocation;
•          how it has made a difference to the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. 

The lead member of staff for PPG is Mr Power (Assistant Headteacher)

The lead governor for PPG is Mrs Sarah Fernon

This information can be found in the following documents.

Pupil Premium Strategy for the Academic Year 2023-2024

Review of outcomes 2022/2023

In February 2015 the school commissioned a review of its expenditure of the pupil premium grant.  The school was praised for the 'strong systems', 'careful tracking of all aspects of the pupil premium' and the 'impact' of the grant throughout the school.  

Ofsted visited our school in June 2017 and praised our "well-planned provision for disadvantaged
pupils" which ensured "that they are making good progress and achieve broadly in line with other pupils nationally."  Ofsted continued to praise our work by recognising that children in receipt of the were ensured access to extra-curricular and enrichment experiences.  

Additionally, Mr Power, our designated leader is a fully trained Senior Leader of Education (SLE) with a particular focus on effective pupil premium spending. 

Pupil Premium and Free School Meals

Since September 2014, all children in Key Stage One have been entitled to free school meals.  This may mean the school is unaware of some Key Stage One children who would have been eligible for free school meals - and therefore the pupil premium grant.  If you think that you your child would be eligible for free school meals and you are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits, please speak directly to a member of the Senior Management Team. We can then work with you to ensure that your child receives their full entitlement in school.

• income support or income-based Job Seekers Allowance;
• Child Tax Credit with an annual taxable income of less than £16,190 (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit)
• Pension Guarantee Credit;
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance;
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If your child is in or about to enter Key Stage Two and you receive one or more of the above benefits, your child may be entitled to a free school meal and the pupil premium grant.  

To apply for free school meals for a child in Key Stage Two, complete the online application form from Essex County Council.  If you are unsure if your child is eligible, or would like support in completing the application, please feel free to ask a member of school staff.

Your Feedback

Your feedback is important to us to ensure that we are communicating effectively with all stakeholders and maximising the impact of the pupil premium grant.  If you are a parent or carer of a child at Grove Wood and would like to contact us regarding the grant, please email us at admin@grovewood.essex.sch.uk and address your email to Mr Power.