Purpose of Pupil Premium

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 by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.

In most cases, the Pupil Premium is allocated to schools and is clearly identifiable. It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium, allocated to schools per FSM pupil, is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.

Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit. However, they will be held accountable for how they have used the additional funding to support pupils from low-income families.

What we aim to achieve with our Pupil Premium funding

At Chesterfield Primary School, our intention is that all pupils, irrespective of their background or the challenges they face, make good progress and attain well across all subject areas. The focus of our pupil premium strategy is to support disadvantaged pupils to achieve that goal, including progress for those that are already high attainers. 

We recognise that many of our pupils face challenges that make them vulnerable, such as those who have a social worker, are LAC, young carers, asylum seekers or those with an EHCP plan. Our key principles aim to support their needs regardless of whether they are disadvantaged or not. 

Our ultimate aim is to ensure an equitable education for our disadvantaged pupils that is adapted to meet their needs. Our key principles revolve around Quality First Teaching and setting high expectations. At Chesterfield, we do not believe a pupil’s background is a reason for them not to reach their full potential.  Educational research underpins our approach to teaching, and we strive to provide a high-quality curriculum which ensures equality of opportunity and equity of provision for all.

Removing barriers to learning will improve the educational outcomes of our disadvantaged pupils. Through robust diagnostic assessment processes, we target individual children with specialist support to ensure all pupils can access their learning.  Our key principles revolve around the whole child, supporting both their academic attainment and emotional wellbeing.