Management Information Sheet

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.

Following the announcement by the DfE in December 2020, the October census will now be used to calculate the Pupil Premium grant. For alternative provision and pupil referral units, the January census will still be used.

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.

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 at www.norfolk.gov.uk/children-and-families/childcare-and-early-learning/free-childcare-and-learning/early-years-pupil-premium.

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.

Please see our eligibility table below:

How do you apply for the Pupil Premium Plus from reception to Year 11?

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.

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 can be shared. Parents and guardians only need to declare their child's status again when the child changes school. Conditions of the grant can be found on the GOV.UK website.

How is payment made to schools?

Schools will receive £2,345 for each previously looked after child recorded on the October census and this will be paid the following financial year. For example, for pupils recorded on the October 2020 school census, the Pupil Premium Plus funding is paid to schools from April 2021 to March 2022 (the 2021-22 financial year). Local authority-maintained schools will receive the funding from the local authority and academy schools with receive their funding straight from the ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency).

How can I share this information with families?

The Virtual School has produced a Pupil Premium Plus template letter that you can use to share information. It is in the files and downloads section at the bottom of the Pupil Premium page on the schools website.

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.

Within the Using Pupil Premium: Guidance for school leaders it states:

The role of the Virtual School

Pupil Premium Plus is paid directly to the school and is not managed by the Virtual School. The Virtual School does have a responsibility for previously looked-after children to promote their educational achievement through the provision of information and advice to their parents, guardians, educators and others considered necessary.

Please email harriet.tunnicliff@norfolk.gov.uk with any queries you may have.