Pupil Premium

Pupil premium is a designated amount of money that the government allocates to each school, based upon a number of factors which are linked to the perceived deprivation of certain pupils within a school.Β Β  This money is intended to be spent directly or indirectly on those pupils who are considered vulnerable because they are not meeting National Expectations in terms of attainment.

At Whitehall Park, we believe that every child has the right to achieve, succeed and thrive. We have high aspirations and ambitions for all of our children. We are driven by our belief that every child should have the opportunity to learn, make progress and fulfil their potential.Β Β  As a school community, we work together collaboratively to carefully assess and monitor each child and to tailor learning opportunities to enable every child to realise their full potential.

Our Pupil Premium Grant will be utilised in a range of ways that we believe will have the greatest impact on those who are entitled to receive this additional funding.Β Β  We will use it to provide a range of additional support for our children and our intention is that these specific interventions will have a significant impact on children’s learning and progress and so their attainment.

Our key focus in determining effective use of the Pupil Premium Grant is to narrow the gap between pupil groups to ensure that every child is able to make at least good progress. Β Β Nationally, children who are entitled to Free School Meals have historically achieved less well than their peers. At Whitehall Park, we intend to ensure that the gap is closed for all groups of pupils and we will carefully monitor any trends in attainment for specific individuals or groups to ensure we can maximise the efficacy of our interventions and support.

Whilst we believe that effectively differentiated Quality First Teaching is crucial and ensure success and progress, we also understand the importance of targeted, precision intervention.Β Β  As such, we use a range of intervention strategies to provide children with the additional support and challenge that they need in order to accelerate progress and for some children to eliminate barriers to learning so they are equipped with the tools, skills and experience they need to reach age related expectations and as they move through the school.Β Β Β  Β Targeted support is being provided through one-to-one and small group tuition. These interventions support children in knowing where they are and what they need to do to improve their work.

How do we decide what to use pupil premium for?

WPS Pupil Premium Strategy 2023 – 2024

Money has been ring-fenced and used to benefit all pupil premium pupils. We have established clear lines of responsibility with a member of the senior leadership team and a link LAB member (Local Advisory Board) taking responsibility for Pupil Premium.Β  At Whitehall Park School we have planned our spending carefully to ensure that it has been spent to maximum effect. This has meant making informed decisions about our spending such as:

  • Ensuring that spending is directly linked to closing gaps in attainment;
  • Making use of our attainment and progress data to ensure Β interventions;
  • Making sure that we focus on ensuring Quality First teaching is our priority and at the heart of all we do;
  • Ensuring that we effectively evaluate the impact of challenge and support where necessary

All staff are aware of areas for development in the school in terms of key subject areas and specific year groups and they all know which children are focus children.Β  Additional funding is used to benefit all pupil premium children and supports higher as well as lower ability children by extending the provision on offer.

We have revised our assessment and monitoring systems to support improvement in the quality of outcomes for all children with a focus on improving Quality First Teaching and implementing effective interventions in order to maximise impact.Β  Our regular phase, staff and leadership meetings enable us to be more responsive and frequent support such as team teaching, planning, one to one training and CPD.

Our strategy for effective use of Pupil Premium Grant is driven by the school leadership team and is based upon careful discussions, observations, assessment and monitoring. Β Β Β In collaboration with practitioners, leaders analyse the school data each term and through Pupil Progress meetings adjust and amend any recommendations for the expenditure. Β Β The majority of our pupil premium is spent on strategies to raise attainment and close any gaps in attainment for children eligible for free school meals. Β Β Strategies that we have decided upon include:-

Pupil welfare and wellbeing:

  • RewardsΒ for excellent attendance and punctuality
  • Extended places atΒ Breakfast Club and after school clubsΒ that are subsidised for those children in receipt of Pupil Premium
  • Supporting families with uniform and clothing requirements

Raising Standards

  • Additional non-class based senior staff to enable the teaching of children in smaller class sizes and in small groups for aspects of core subjects
  • Additional purchases of Reading books and materials to support the teaching of phonics and reading
  • Professional development: releasing teachers to work with colleagues across the school and the wider Trust to raise standards and close the attainment gap
  • Additional support from theΒ Early Years team at Islington Local authority to ensure best practice
  • Additional interventions to boost Β levels and provide small group catch up sessions, including 1:1 tuition for targeted children

Enrichment

  • Allocated greater amount of money fromΒ budgetΒ for off-site activities and in-school enrichmentΒ opportunities
  • Homework and extended day clubs provided free of charge to targeted pupils
  • Subsidised musical instrument lessons

If your child does not have free school meals but may be entitled because of your family income level, please contact the office (in confidence) for more information. Even if you do not wish for them to have the meals, registering them would mean that the school could claim Pupil Premium funding which could help your child.