Pupil Premium

Case studies

Interventions

Looked-after children

Vulnerable children

Case studies

The Pupil Premium provides additional funding disadvantaged pupils in England in order to close the attainment gap between them and their peers. You can read our latest case studies of primary school best practice here.

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Tackling the cost-of-living crisis through reading

The culture of reading at Lea Forest Primary Academy forms the backbone of this outstanding school. Sean Harris explains how they are using reading to tackle the impact of poverty on pupils’ lives...

Vulnerable pupils: Identifying invisible barriers to learning

There seem to be so many more barriers to learning now and many of these are seemingly invisible to schools. Ali Williams discusses how schools can identify ‘vulnerability’ and what we can do once we have

Poverty in school: Practical tips for supporting families

The cost of living crisis is hitting families hard. Fabienne Crocket from the UK Cost of the School Day project considers four areas where we might review our provision to ensure the costs of school are not adding to the burden

At crisis point: Poverty in our communities

The cost-of-living crisis has not left many untouched and those working in schools are experiencing first-hand the impact it is having on families. Suzanne O'Connell speaks with three schools to find out what they are seeing and what they are doing to help

A Champion for Every Child: A case study of one-to-one tutoring provision

A Champion for Every Child is a pastoral tutoring programme that has had a notable impact for thousands of Pupil Premium pupils across the Kemnal Academies Trust. Emma Lee-Potter finds out how it works in practice at Smarden Primary School

Military children: What kind of support do they need?

The Service Pupil Premium amounts to £310 per child. How can primary schools make a difference to the wellbeing of service children with little to no budget? Louise Fetigan, founder of the charity Little Troopers, advises

Pupil Premium tutoring: A Champion for Every Child

A Champion for Every Child is a pastoral tutoring programme that has had a notable impact for thousands of Pupil Premium pupils across the Kemnal Academies Trust. Emma Lee-Potter finds out more

Case study: Developing an Early Help offer in response to Covid

Given the impact of the pandemic on families and children’s lives, work is on-going in Lambeth to revisit and revamp intervention and support via the Early Help offer. Headteacher Laura McPhee explains

Crafting your curriculum with poverty in mind

Poverty is an ever-present challenge in our schools and there are important links to our curriculum. Sean Harris, a teacher and post-doctoral researcher investigating poverty in schools, offers practical ways in which we can recalibrate our curriculum with poverty in mind

Doorstep disadvantage: Beyond the Pupil Premium

Do you understand the barriers to learning that poverty creates in your school’s community? Doctoral researcher and teacher, Sean Harris, reflects on some of the lessons he has learned as a school leader, researcher and as somebody who has experienced poverty himself

Pupil Premium: Tracking progress, challenges and involvement – a case study

A small sheet of paper completed four times a year has transformed one primary school’s approach to Pupil Premium support and intervention. Jessica Hawley explains

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Coronavirus: On the wrong side of the digital divide

What does the research say about the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on potential gaps in learning – and about how schools can best support students and their families with remote education – especially those on the wrong side of the digital divide? Dr Beng Huat See considers the evidence

Case study: Pastoral excellence at Kennington Park Academy

Kennington Park Academy supports excluded pupils aged five to 11. Laura McPhee finds out more about the school's ethos and approaches, including its excellent pastoral and PSHE work

Raising ambitions for Pupil Premium children

How can we move beyond ‘off-the-shelf’ strategies for Pupil Premium work in our classrooms? Sean Harris finds out how one primary school went about raising its pupils’ ambitions

Suggestions for Pupil Premium approaches

Drawing on tried and tested practice from her own London primary school, as well as national examples, National Leader of Education Helen Frostick looks at some key tenets of Pupil Premium work

Using the Pupil Premium Plus effectively

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

Case Study: Tackling the effects of deprivation

Barton Hill Academy has a range of provision and strategies to support its pupils, not least those from deprived backgrounds. Jane Young, Jim Piper and Angela Farrell explain

A 10-step Pupil Premium plan

All schools should be regularly reviewing their Pupil Premium practice to ensure their spending is evidence-based and improving outcomes. John Dabell looks at the wealth of research and guidance out there to help, including some of Sir John Dunford’s best advice

Case study: Engaging disadvantaged families

An initiative at Catton Grove Primary School is opening up the countryside for its disadvantaged children while also engaging parents with life-skills courses. Emma Lee-Potter finds out more

The attainment gap in EYFS

It is well known at the attainment gap starts to develop long before children arrive at school. But what can we do in the EYFS to tackle the problem early on? Daniel Sobel offers his reflections

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An award-winning Pupil Premium school

Earlier this year, Northern Saints Primary School was named a national winner at the Pupil Premium Awards 2016. Emma Lee-Potter finds out how this Sunderland school uses its Pupil Premium funding to raise aspirations and outcomes for pupils

Pupil Premium: Narrowing the gaps

The recent Pupil Premium Awards saw a range of schools from across the country recognised for their work in closing the gap for disadvantaged pupils. Jo Corrigan looks at the approaches of two finalists

Strategies to bridge the attainment gap

Is it possible to halve the attainment gap in just six months? Drawing upon his work with one school, inclusion expert Daniel Sobel offers five lessons for effective whole-school Pupil Premium strategies

Pupil Premium challenges: Supporting the most vulnerable pupils

National Leader of Education Helen Frostick discusses some of the Pupil Premium challenges facing schools and considers some traits of excellent, whole-school Pupil Premium practice

NFER Research Insights 2015

Headteacher Update's Research Insights articles, published in conjunction with the NFER, offer in-depth, evidence based advice, guidance and best practice covering a wide range of areas relevant to primary school leadership and education. Download the latest articles from 2015 and 2014 for free ...

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