What is Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium is allocated to children from low income families who are currently known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings, children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, and children from Services families. This also includes any pupils eligible for FSM at any point in the last six years.

Schools are free to spend their Pupil Premium as they see fit. However, we will be held to account for how we have used the additional funding to narrow the gap between those targeted pupils. We are required to publish online how we have used the premium. This is to ensure that parents and other stakeholders are made fully aware of the impact of this additional resourcing on learning and achievement outcomes within our school.

Your child may be entitled to pupil premium funding if you receive one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Child Tax Credit Only (with income up to £16,190) with no element of Working Tax Credit
• National Asylum Seekers Support
• Guarantee Element of the State Pension Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
• Universal Credit (income dependant)

To self check your eligibility for free school meals please click to use the online Free School Meal Checker. Alternatively you can contact the school office who will be happy to check eligibility on your behalf.

What is Pupil Premium funding spent on?

The amount of money allocated to schools under Pupil Premium is clearly identifiable. It is, however, at the discretion of the school to decide how it is spent, since they are in the best position to assess what intervention strategies or additional support will be best placed to support their individual pupils to make progress.

All schools are required to report on the amount of funding received, how it is being used, and the impact of any work done.

This money is not 'ring fenced'. However, as good practice has shown, the way this money is used should be planned and allocated at the start of the financial year.  The statement below shows how we plan to spend this money.

Swingate's Pupil Premium Intent

At Swingate, we remain firmly committed to improving outcomes for our disadvantaged pupils. We recognise that children facing disadvantage may encounter a variety of barriers that can affect their learning, wellbeing and long-term success. Our approach is designed to remove these barriers and ensure every child can thrive – academically, socially, and emotionally – both during their time at Swingate and beyond. 

To achieve this, our work continues to be underpinned by the following aims: 

• Reduce the impact of family circumstances and background by removing obstacles that limit access to learning. 

• Close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, both within school and nationally. 

• Improve attendance by ensuring vulnerable pupils attend regularly and receive daily follow-up where this is not the case. 

• Equip teachers with ongoing high-quality CPD so that all pupils benefit from consistently strong, evidence-informed teaching. 

• Provide targeted interventions – including small group work – to swiftly address gaps in learning as soon as they are identified. 

• Use funding strategically to guarantee that all pupils can participate in trips and meaningful first-hand learning experiences. 

• Ensure every child can access enrichment, such as sports, music, and wider cultural opportunities. 

• Offer nurturing support, enabling pupils to engage fully with learning both within the classroom and in less structured environments. 

• Develop fluent readers and writers so that all children can confidently access the full curriculum. 

• Strengthen pupils’ communication skills, helping them express themselves effectively in a range of contexts. 

• Promote emotional wellbeing and resilience, ensuring pupils can manage challenges constructively. 

• Broaden pupils’ knowledge and cultural capital through a rich variety of experiences and opportunities. 

• Work collaboratively with external agencies to support pupils who are both socio-economically disadvantaged and have additional SEND needs. 

This is not a fixed list; our strategies evolve in response to the changing needs of our pupils. 

Our Pupil Premium funding will be used to ensure that every child benefits from high-quality teaching and that any learning gaps are addressed quickly, enabling all pupils to meet the ambitious targets we set. Part A of our strategy outlines the wider challenges we aim to overcome across the next three years. 

Our core focus remains the delivery of excellent teaching in reading, writing and mathematics, supported by a well-designed wider curriculum. Targeted academic support will continue for pupils working below age-related expectations, particularly in phonics, reading and writing, alongside tailored provision for learners with SEND. In addition, our wider strategies will continue to prioritise pupils’ social, emotional and behavioural development through Hamish and Milo (social and emotional learning and social, emotional and mental health intervention programme), counselling, and support from the Pastoral Manager. We are committed to ensuring that financial constraints never prevent any child from accessing an enriched curriculum. 

Our mission – the Bluebell Way – is for all children to flourish from a wealth of experiences which positively impact their academic, emotional and physical development. 

This three-year strategy outlines how we will make that mission a reality for all pupils.