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Pupil Premium

The funding we receive includes an allocation of pupil premium (government funding to boost achievement for specific pupils).

What is the Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium (PP) was introduced in April 2011. It is additional funding provided by the Government for eligible pupils, to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. It is allocated to children from lower income families who are eligible for free school meals (FSM), children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months and for children from families that are in the Armed Forces.

From April 2015 schools, pre-schools and nurseries can also claim funding called Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) that supports children’s early learning and development.

How should schools use Pupil Premium?

Schools are free to choose how they allocate their Pupil Premium funding. However, it must be used to support disadvantaged pupils and raise attainment. From September 2012, the government required schools to publish online information about how they use the Pupil Premium. This format changed in 2021 and a longer term, research driven approach is recommended.

How does Merry Hill spend its Pupil Premium?

We have unpicked the most significant challenges for our disadvantaged pupils and use the tiered model which focuses on:

  •  High quality teaching
  • Targeted academic support
  •  Wider strategies

We ensure all staff are aware of which children are eligible for the Pupil Premium and they provide additional, regular and targeted support for these children. Passports are created to share with parents which celebrate the uniqueness of each child and help us unpick the challenges that child faces. CPD is provided to focus on addressing the challenges identified in order to provide high quality teaching for all and subsequently to raise attainment. A large proportion of our funding is spent on staffing. This can include support in the classroom and also through interventions. In addition, we use the services of The South West Herts Partnership who provide family workers who can support parents and children in school and at home. We also have a designated Forces Liaison Mentor who acts as a point of contact for our Forces community, provides pastoral support for our Service children and runs our Forces club, which greatly benefits our Forces families.

A three year Pupil Premium Strategy Plan outlines how the Pupil Premium funding will be spent and is published below. It will be reviewed and evaluated regularly and updated on the website annually to ensure it continues to meet the needs of our disadvantaged children.

You can see our Pupil Premium Strategy Plan for 2021-2024 by clicking on the link below:

Free School Meals

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are now entitled to government funded Free School Meals. However, we still encourage all families to register online for Free School Meals to see if they are eligible for any additional Pupil Premium funding. To find out if you qualify, please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals or call 0300 123 4048. The registration process should take no more than 5 minutes, and you will need to have your National Insurance Number or Home Office Number to hand.