Smitham Primary School

The Pupil Premium is additional funding which is allocated to schools on the basis of the number of pupils who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point over the last six years. This additional funding is aimed at addressing the current underlying inequalities which exist between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their more affluent peers.

The pupil premium also provides funding for children who have been looked after or adopted from care and for children whose parents serve in the armed services.

Since April 2014 schools receive an additional £1300 for each pupil eligible for free school meals or £1900 for children who are considered as looked after (CLA). Children whose parents serve in the armed forces receive a lower amount of £300. Allocation of funding is based on pupils eligible recorded on the October 2013 School Census and based on records held by the Virtual School.

Each school can decide how they spend the pupil premium but will be held to account to show the impact it has had. Smitham uses the end of key stage data and phonics results to assess the impact of this funding. Other data such as attendance rates and evidence from books/learning may also be analysed.