Management Information Sheet
Pupil Premium Plus for Previously Looked After Children 2020/21
This information sheet is for early years childcare providers, schools and families to explain about Pupil Premium Plus for previously looked after children. Only schools or settings can apply with the funding going directly to the school or setting.
What is Pupil Premium Plus?
The Department for Education introduced the Pupil Premium Plus for previously looked after children in 2013. They acknowledge the important role that schools play in supporting children who have experienced trauma, loss and a difficult start to life. It recognises that this can have a lasting impact on the child throughout their education. Pupil Premium Plus is currently £ 2,345 per child, per year.
Early Years Pupil Premium was introduced in 2015 for early years settings. Children will be funded at a rate of 53p an hour which equates to £ 302.10 per annum.
Who is Pupil Premium Plus for?
Pupil Premium Plus is available to claim for children from reception age to Year 11 in state funded education who have left the care of a local authority in England or Wales immediately prior to being adopted, through a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or a Child Arrangement Order (CAO - formerly known as a Residence Order).
Pupils must be attending either:
- An early years provider including nurseries, school nurseries and childminders.
- A local authority maintained or maintained special school.
- An academy or free school.
- A non-maintained special school, an independent school and other alternative provision (e.g. home education) where the place or provision is funded by the local authority.
Children who are educated at home or attend private schools are not currently eligible unless their placements are funded by the local authority.
How do you apply for the Early Years Pupil Premium?
In Norfolk, initially providers will use the parent/carer claim form to collect the information needed to perform an eligibility check. This information is then transferred to the online system known as the Provider Portal via the funding module. The Norfolk Guidance on Early Years Pupil Premium can be found here: www.norfolk.gov.uk/children-and-families/childcare-and-early-learning/free-childcare-and-learning/early-years-pupil-premium
How do you apply for the Pupil Premium Plus from reception to Year 11?
In January each year, schools complete a school census. For schools to access the funding and record that a child is previously looked after, parents and guardians must declare their child's adoptive, Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangement Order status directly to the school before the school completes the January census. Parents and guardians must provide evidence to demonstrate their child's previously looked after status in case the school is audited, for example, a copy of the adoption/special guardianship order, or a confirmation letter from the local authority which placed their child. Parents and guardians only need to declare their child's status again when the child changes school.
What is the money for and who decides how it is spent?
It is up to each individual school how to spend the money. It is not ring-fenced for each child but can be used collectively to benefit previously looked after children. Your school will have a designated teacher/person for previously looked after children who will actively be involved in decisions for how Pupil Premium Plus funding is spent to support previously looked after children. It is good practice to get parents'/guardians' views on their child's needs and to talk to them about how the Pupil Premium Plus funding is being used. Parents/guardians should contact the school to organise an informal discussion with the designated teacher/person.
Where can I find more information?
You can find out about the terms of the grant here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2020-to-2021/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2020-to-2021
The Virtual School role for previously looked-after children is to promote their educational achievement through the provision of information and advice to their parents, guardians, educators and others considered necessary. Please contact harriet.tunnicliff@norfolk.gov.uk with any queries you may have.