Pupil Premium
Barrowford St Thomas CE primary school seeks to provide a broad and balanced education built on Christian values, for all children by addressing their academic, social, moral and spiritual needs within a caring, positive and stimulating environment.
At Barrowford St Thomas CE we aim to have a positive ethos where there is mutual respect between pupils, staff, other adults and visitors to the school where people are valued and encouraged to have high self-esteem.
At Barrowford St Thomas CE School all members of staff and governors accept responsibility for all pupils recognising that a significant number of pupils within the school population, some of whom are not eligible for Free School Meals, may at any point during their school career require additional support and intervention. We are committed to meeting their pastoral, social and academic needs in a nurturing environment. As with every child in our care, a child who is entitled to Free School Meals, and consequently the Pupil Premium Grant, is valued, respected and entitled to develop to his/her full potential, irrespective of disadvantage.
Background
The Pupil premium is allocated to children from low-income families who are currently known to be eligible for FSM in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings and children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months. It is also used for pupils who have been on the FSM register but no longer qualify. Schools have the freedom to spend the Premium, which is additional to the underlying schools budget, in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for the most vulnerable pupils.
In order to meet the above requirements, the Governing Body and staff of Barrowford St Thomas CE Primary School will ensure that provision is made which secures the teaching and learning opportunities that meet the needs of all pupils. As part of the additional provision made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups, the Governors and staff of the school will ensure that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and clarified at termly pupil progress meetings. In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, the Governors and staff of Barrowford St Thomas CE recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged. The Governors and staff also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals. They therefore reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil or groups of pupils the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged.
Academic intervention in addition to social, emotional and behavioural support are implemented through half-termly Pupil Progress Meetings. Analysis of tracking and progress is used as a vehicle to identify concerns and presenting issues and also as a measure of impact during the review process.
In addition, the school regularly considers current provision available in school and seeks to expand the range of support on offer; from within through training or from without by accessing external expertise. The schools sees staff training in specific areas of expertise as a means to maximise value for money and ensure the longevity of PPG funded provision for future groups of pupils in school. For example, the training of teaching assistants in order to implement more effective nurture groups. All PPG funded interventions and provision is assessed and evaluated to measure impact. Subsequently activities are either maintained or modified for future implementation and any ineffective approaches are stopped.
Provision planning, including assessment of impact and affordability of provision takes place with Governor involvement and is monitored by the Governor Finance sub-committee. Impact is reported to the Governor Standards and Effectiveness Committee on a termly basis.
Current Academic Year 2024 - 25
Our school’s pupil premium grant allocation amount: £18490
We currently have 8 pupils (6.6%) eligible for free school meals
We currently have 2 (1.7%) pupils eligible for enhanced pupil premium.
Academic Year 2023 - 24
Our school’s pupil premium grant allocation amount: £18155 + £2K recovery funding
Academic Year 2022 - 23
Our school’s pupil premium grant allocation amount: £19,335 + £2K recovery funding