Management Information Sheet
Regional Targeted Support
Guidance for Schools, Governors, Headteachers
and G&T Leading Teachers and Coordinators
This is an update, on behalf of Excellence East and Norfolk Children's Services, on the Regional Targeted Support initiative for disadvantaged gifted students in your school. (Previously mentioned in information provided in November 2009).
The 'Regional Targeted Support' initiative is a national programme that provides secondary schools with additional funding for their disadvantaged gifted learners.
Purpose of the initiative
The ultimate purpose of the programme is 'to develop provision to help disadvantaged gifted learners to compete with their more advantaged peers for places at competitive universities, thereby strengthening social mobility.' Teachernet Statement 15th January 2010.
In the East of England, our aim is to improve:
Allocation of funding to schools
Schools will receive an allocation of two-thirds of &POUND250 per student, based on the number of students who are in receipt of free school meals or who are Children in Care and have been registered on the School Census as gifted and talented. The Regional Targeted Support initiative is only for those designated as 'gifted' or 'gifted and talented', but not for those who are 'talented' only. The allocation of two-thirds of &POUND250 stems from the DfE's view that one third of those on the Census are talented and therefore do not attract this grant. Please note that school allocations are not rounded up.
The DfE has stated that this funding will be paid in two tranches:
Schools should, therefore, receive two grants for their current Year 10 eligible students, one in May and one in September when these pupils move into Year 11.
The funding will be paid via the local authority through the Standards Fund. Currently there is no indication that the funding will continue in 2011.
Use of the funding in schools
The funding is intended 'to be used to develop provision to help disadvantaged gifted learners to compete with their more advantaged peers for places at competitive universities'. Within this remit, it is for the school to decide how best to use the funding, providing that they are delivering outcomes linked to the aims listed above for this group of students.
A school may wish to allocate the funding to individual eligible students, for example, as a personal bursary, or to use the grant for collective initiatives and opportunities for any Year 9-13 students that the school deems to be disadvantaged.
There is also flexibility for the school to decide on what to spend the funding. Possible uses include:
Online needs analysis
The National Strategies are currently developing an online needs analysis tool for secondary students. This is expected to be available on the National Strategies website in June 2010. It is designed to support the identification of the student's individual needs and suggest relevant opportunities and pathways that are appropriate to these needs. It is intended to be completed through discussion with a mentor/teacher rather than by a student working in isolation. The outcomes from this tool should help to structure a personal development plan.
The online needs analysis is available and applicable to all students in all secondary age groups.
A personal development plan
Although this is not an obligatory element of the Regional Targeted Support initiative, we recommend as good practice that a personal development or support plan is provided for each disadvantaged student, building on the suggested actions and activities that emerge from the needs analysis.
The role of Excellence East
Excellence East will work closely with local authorities and others in the region to:
For further information about Gifted and Talented Education please see:-
the National Strategies website: http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/inclusion/giftedandtalented;
the Excellence East website:http://www.excellenceeast.org.uk/;
the Norfolk Schools website:http://schools.norfolk.gov.uk/page_45.cfm
and G&T Leading Teachers and Coordinators
This is an update, on behalf of Excellence East and Norfolk Children's Services, on the Regional Targeted Support initiative for disadvantaged gifted students in your school. (Previously mentioned in information provided in November 2009).
The 'Regional Targeted Support' initiative is a national programme that provides secondary schools with additional funding for their disadvantaged gifted learners.
Purpose of the initiative
The ultimate purpose of the programme is 'to develop provision to help disadvantaged gifted learners to compete with their more advantaged peers for places at competitive universities, thereby strengthening social mobility.' Teachernet Statement 15th January 2010.
In the East of England, our aim is to improve:
| attainment at Key Stage 4 and 5 | |
| the aspirations, skills, motivation and self-esteem of the free school meals (FSM) and look after children (LAC) gifted students who are eligible for the programme | |
| the number of gifted disadvantaged students applying to competitive universities | |
| student life chances and social mobility. |
Allocation of funding to schools
Schools will receive an allocation of two-thirds of &POUND250 per student, based on the number of students who are in receipt of free school meals or who are Children in Care and have been registered on the School Census as gifted and talented. The Regional Targeted Support initiative is only for those designated as 'gifted' or 'gifted and talented', but not for those who are 'talented' only. The allocation of two-thirds of &POUND250 stems from the DfE's view that one third of those on the Census are talented and therefore do not attract this grant. Please note that school allocations are not rounded up.
The DfE has stated that this funding will be paid in two tranches:
| in May 2010 for the current Year 10 based on 2/3rds* of the School Census G&T figure from January 2009 (confirmed by the DfE on 17th May 2010) | |
| September 2010 for the new Year 10 and for Year 11 based on 2/3rds of the School Census from January 2010 (confirmation that the DfE will provide this sum is still awaited - May 2010) |
Schools should, therefore, receive two grants for their current Year 10 eligible students, one in May and one in September when these pupils move into Year 11.
The funding will be paid via the local authority through the Standards Fund. Currently there is no indication that the funding will continue in 2011.
Use of the funding in schools
The funding is intended 'to be used to develop provision to help disadvantaged gifted learners to compete with their more advantaged peers for places at competitive universities'. Within this remit, it is for the school to decide how best to use the funding, providing that they are delivering outcomes linked to the aims listed above for this group of students.
A school may wish to allocate the funding to individual eligible students, for example, as a personal bursary, or to use the grant for collective initiatives and opportunities for any Year 9-13 students that the school deems to be disadvantaged.
There is also flexibility for the school to decide on what to spend the funding. Possible uses include:
| provision of targeted teaching and learning opportunities in class for this group | |
| provision of additional in-school learning enrichment and extension activities | |
| provision of resources, materials, equipment and ICT | |
| mentoring and coaching | |
| tailored study support | |
| funding for transport to local, regional and national G&T activities | |
| funding places at local, regional or national G&T opportunities including summer schools. |
Online needs analysis
The National Strategies are currently developing an online needs analysis tool for secondary students. This is expected to be available on the National Strategies website in June 2010. It is designed to support the identification of the student's individual needs and suggest relevant opportunities and pathways that are appropriate to these needs. It is intended to be completed through discussion with a mentor/teacher rather than by a student working in isolation. The outcomes from this tool should help to structure a personal development plan.
The online needs analysis is available and applicable to all students in all secondary age groups.
A personal development plan
Although this is not an obligatory element of the Regional Targeted Support initiative, we recommend as good practice that a personal development or support plan is provided for each disadvantaged student, building on the suggested actions and activities that emerge from the needs analysis.
The role of Excellence East
Excellence East will work closely with local authorities and others in the region to:
| provide up-to-date information, guidance and support to local authorities and schools | |
| work directly with schools in support of the initiative, where appropriate | |
| work with regional universities, Villiers Park Educational Trust and other organisations to provide additional learning opportunities for disadvantaged gifted students | |
| monitor the outcomes of the initiative. |
For further information about Gifted and Talented Education please see:-
the National Strategies website: http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/inclusion/giftedandtalented;
the Excellence East website:http://www.excellenceeast.org.uk/;
the Norfolk Schools website:http://schools.norfolk.gov.uk/page_45.cfm