Pupil Premium Plus (PP+)

Pupil Premium (PP) is funding designed to help disadvantaged pupils of all abilities achieve higher attainment levels, closing the gap between themselves and their peers. This is different to Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) which is a higher level of funding specifically for children in care and previously in care, in recognition of the impact trauma and loss can have on their lives. 

How is PP+ administered?

PP+ is available to eligible statutory school age children in care and previously in care. The care status of the child determines how the money is administered: 

  • children in care: PP+ for eligible children is released to their schools by the Virtual School
  • children previously in care: PP+ is paid directly to the school or academy

PP+ in Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire releases £2,100 across the year of the allocated £2,630. School and education settings request the £700 pupil premium+ per term through the targets section of our child’s PEP. Funding is approved by Assistant Head of Virtual School and is released to schools on a termly basis. The Virtual School retains the remaining funding centrally. This is used towards Virtual School projects and initiatives to raised attainment and achievement of targeted groups of children and young people.

PP+ for pupils attending education out of Nottinghamshire

For those eligible pupils who are not placed within Nottinghamshire borders for their education, the system for applying for pupil premium is the same as for Nottinghamshire schools and settings.  A data request is sent via a secure email system which asks for the progress and attainment information on the pupil and, if eligible for pupil premium plus, how the funding will be used to support improvements in their outcomes. On return of this information and approval by the virtual school funding will be released to the school or setting.  The statement issued by Nottinghamshire County Council on pupil premium plus expenditure will also be sent to out of county establishments and these expectations should be adhered to when applying for the funding.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Children between the ages of 3 and 4 attending early years settings are eligible for EYPP. A child qualifies for this funding if they have been in local authority care for 1 day or more in England or Wales. 

If the child is attending an early year setting in Nottinghamshire the setting will receive payments from the local authority. However, as part of the Personal Education Plan (PEP) process the Virtual School would expect providers and social care to identify in the targets section, how the EYPP will be used to benefit the child's educational attainment or development needs. SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time Limited) targets should be added to the PEP identifying how the EYPP will be used to benefit the child's attainment and educational development. 

Children attending an out of county early years setting

If a child is looked after by Nottinghamshire County Council but attending an out of county early years setting the setting, the setting will receive the EYPP from the local authority were the child's educational setting is situated. PEP's should also be in place for these children which identifies the support PP+ is funding. 

How can PP+ be used?

PP+ is additional to the funds a school would normally receive for any child attending their setting. For children in care, the funding should be used to help bridge gaps, improve participation, raise attainment and achievement, and improve educational outcomes. This funding is in addition to the interventions or support a school would normally put in place for any child. The DfE have published guidance [PDF] outlining that to get the most out of PP+, the spending  should include approaches that are:

  • individually tailored to the needs and strengths of each child
  • consistent (based on agreed core principles) but also flexible and responsive
  • based on evidence of what works
  • focused on clear short-term goals which give opportunities for pupils to experience success
  • include regular, high quality feedback from teaching staff
  • engage parents/carers in the agreement and evaluation of arrangements for education support (e.g. via the Personal Education Plan)
  • supporting pupil transition (e.g. primary-secondary)
  • raising aspirations through access to high-quality educational experiences
  • promoting the young person's awareness and understanding of their own thought processes (metacognition) and help to develop problem-solving strategies (and executive functioning skills)

Which emphasise:

  • relationship-building, both with appropriate adults and with peers
  • an emotionally-intelligent approach to the setting of clear behaviour boundaries
  • the importance of increasing pupil's understanding of their own emotions and identity
  • positive reinforcement
  • building self-esteem
  • relevance to the learner: relate to pupil's interests where possible, make it matter to them
  • a joined-up approach involving social workers, carers, schools and any other relevant professionals
  • the importance of a strong, visionary and inclusive school leadership team
  • a child-centred approach to assessment for learning.

Further information:

Resources

In line with statutory legislation, Nottinghamshire’s Virtual School produces a Pupil Premium Statement which outlines expectations of partners, the Nottinghamshire systems and processes and useful links to key documents.

Read the Educational Endowment Foundation guidance outlining the impact of evidence-based interventions:

The Educational Endowment Foundation provides a wide range of relevant resources, including their Teaching and Learning Toolkit 

Read PAC-UK's guidance on meeting the needs of adopted and permanently placed children.

Read the government guidance on Pupil Premium conditions of grant.