The Pupil Premium Plus grant for looked after and other vulnerable pupils is £2,300 per-student, but many schools are still uncertain as to how it can best be utilised. Virtual school headteacher Darren Martindale advises

Inclusion is an increasingly hot topic. With permanent exclusions rising, evidence shows that vulnerable students, such as looked after children (LAC) and those with SEND or in receipt of free school meals, are significantly more likely to be excluded.

Teachers repeatedly tell me that they are struggling to support a number of pupils with increasingly complex needs, and that more sophisticated approaches are required to support those vulnerable students.

The Pupil Premium Plus (PPP) is funding allocated to local authorities to help raise the attainment of LAC, as well as pupils who have left care through adoption or a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). The LAC portion of the grant is managed by the virtual school headteacher, who usually allocates the majority to schools, working in conjunction with heads and designated teachers to ensure that it is utilised in the best way. The adopted/SGO grant, however, is allocated directly to schools, based on school census data.

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