Pupil Premium for Children in Care

Dear Colleagues, 

With the first full academic year of Pupil Premium for Children in Care (commonly known as Pupil Premium Plus (PP+)) now coming to a close, I thought it prudent to share the progress so far and dispel any misunderstandings that exist within this complex multitiered grant. As has been corresponded previously and outlined in the recent Headteacher briefings, PP+ is a child's need based application process with no minimum nor maximum application amount. It has been accessed via a 1 side of A4 application form to date through the Virtual School Kent (VSK) locality teams. In an attempt to further streamline the system and process, as of September 2015 applications will be made via the electronic Personal Education Plan (ePEP). We are currently working with schools and designated teachers to develop the online training to support schools to do this, which will be with you before the end of term.

I am pleased to report that the vast majority of applications were immediately approved with a minority returned for amendments or declined due to the applications being outside of the terms and conditions of grant. Over 96% of the funding was spent directly by schools and roughly in line with the geographical dispersal of children in care in Kent. A small proportion was utilised by VSK to establish or pilot countywide
literacy development support, such as Beanstalk and the Paired Reading Scheme. I am happy to report that initial findings of the Paired Reading Scheme have evidenced a gross reading age improvement of 15 months during the 16 week support, we are now looking how this can be rolled out on a larger scale without watering down its impact.

I have also been really impressed with case studies shared with me of the grants effective use across the county. These case studies range from 1:1 support to whole school approaches and indeed further still to inter school collaborative approaches. This is something that the Virtual School advocates and I am excited to follow future developments. Last financial year saw 23% of the funding supporting 1:1 tuition; 19% on Targeted individual school support; 36% on school group based interventions and finally 18% on collaborative approaches. It is the Virtual Schools intention between October 2015 and January 2016 to initiate a consultation period. This will review the process against the backdrop of the summer academic outcomes and the late December 2015 DfE Statistical First Release (SFR) national comparative data. This will then influence the direction we take for the 2016-17 financial year assuming the grant continues or continues in line with its current terms and conditions. 

Thank you once again for all the fantastic work you are doing with children in care across the county and please take time to visit the VSK website where you will find all statutory guidance as well as effective practice case studies.

Finally if you would like to submit your effective practice to share with the Kent community please do so.

Contact Details

Tony Doran Headteacher VSK 
Tel: 03000 41 5 067
Email: judy.molyneux@kent.gov.uk