Pupil Premium

The Pupil Premium is part of the Social Mobility Strategy that aims to tackle unfairness at every stage of life with specific measures to improve social mobility from the foundation years to school and adulthood. A key component of the Social Mobility Strategy is “Narrowing the Gap” along with raising standards in all schools and raising aspirations for all children.

The Pupil Premium is allocated to schools based on the numbers of pupils who are known to be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). From 2012-13 this will also include pupils who have been eligible for FSM at any point within the previous six years. This is to enable additional funds to be available for children from low income families, who achieve less well, a better start in life and to make an impact on attainment for those pupils - particularly in English and Mathematics.

Use of Pupil Premium

In 2012-13 Horsted Infant and Junior Schools received £36, 850 in Pupil Premium Funding.

This money is being used towards a number of school initiatives that were specifically designed to support all pupils, but in particular pupils from deprived backgrounds, as follows:

One to One Tuition This is run during school time by teachers who are known to our children. Specifically identified children are given the opportunity to benefit from the tuition to help them reach their full potential in maths and literacy. The sessions are run during the school day.

Small Group Tuition classes are run for vulnerable pupils, specifically to target areas that require additional input to ensure that the children achieve their full potential.

Our new library: The HUB.  A key aim of our school is to engage those more vulnerable pupils in reading and writing.  We have therefore purchased an exciting new reading scheme named ‘Project X’ which all of the pupils seem to love.  We have also purchased Kindles, iPods and a Play station 3 to be used for the purpose of educating in a fun and engaging way; especially for those who may be from families unable to access these types of technology at home.

Rocket Club/HUB Club We employ teaching assistants during the lunch hour to support our pupils; especially those who are socially and academically vulnerable. Pupils are identified where we believe support is needed with a view to lessening barriers to learning and social situations in relation to behaviour, motivation and academic achievement.  These clubs are among a number of indicators used to help us to decide which pupils need individual learning support and group programmes.  We develop and maintain contact with parents to keep them informed of the children’s needs and progress.

Learning Support Services - An on and offsite provision, working with the school providing counselling, social and academic assessments, with an aim to improve outcomes for all children in our school. 

Objectives of this service are to:

·         promote the emotional wellbeing of pupils and staff

·         support the pupil in achieving academic potential in school

·         promote equal opportunities for all pupils in Medway schools

·         minimise the risks of fixed term and permanent exclusions

·         assist schools in achieving their attendance target

·         support schools and pupils at transition phases in their lives

·         provide high quality, specialist and professional advice

Horsted Infant and Junior School continually tracks the progress of all our pupils to enable early identification of those that are not performing to their full potential and for strategies to be put in place to correct this.