Miss Newby is our Inclusion Lead. She oversees the Pupil Premium Strategy. 

What is Pupil Premium?

The pupil premium is a grant allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils on roll that are known to have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any time in the last six years. Each of these pupils attract a specific amount of funding each year which must be spent on them to remove barriers to their education. Schools have the freedom to spend the premium in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for those pupils. 

Who is eligible?

Pupil premium funding is allocated to eligible schools based on the number of:

• pupils who are recorded as eligible for free school meals, or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years 
• children previously looked after by a local authority or other state care, including children adopted from state care or equivalent from outside England and Wales

Pupil premium is not a personal budget for individual pupils but schools must spend pupil premium funding to benefit those children who meet the funding criteria alongside others. It can be used:

• to support other pupils with identified needs, such as those who have or have had a social worker, or who act as a carer
• for whole class interventions which will also benefit non-disadvantaged pupils

Pupil premium funding is allocated to local authorities based on the number of:

• looked-after children, supported by the local authority
• pupils who meet any of the eligibility criteria and who attend an independent setting, where the local authority pays full tuition fees

At Dovelands, we recognise that not all of our children or families fit into the definition as set out by the Department of Education.  Therefore, we adopt a broad definition of ‘disadvantage’ to incorporate the support we provide to the children we work with, who may experience adversity throughout their time at Dovelands. This may include children who experienced adverse childhood experiences, are new to the country or have suffered a significant loss. A full list can be found on page 3 of our Pupil Premium strategy (below) 

It is vital for parents to register their child as eligible for FSM so that Dovelands receives their maximum Pupil Premium entitlement. You will also benefit from having reduced costs for trips and your child will receive free school meals. 

We are aware that there a number of parents that do not take up the opportunity for their children to receive free school meals. This could be for a number of reasons. We would firstly like to reassure parents that receiving free school meals is a completely confidential matter and children who receive free school meals receive exactly the same dinner as a child who is not receiving free school meals. Secondly, your child does not have to have the school dinner provided and can carry on with their usual arrangement.

If you think you are eligible to claim Free School Meals then please come and talk to the office or use the link below to apply online.

If you have any further questions about Pupil Premium or Pupil Premium Plus, please do not hesitate to contact our Inclusion Lead, Ms Laura Newby via the office or at inclusion@dovelands.leicester.sch.uk 

Ruth Nicholls is our Governor for Pupil Premium. She can be contacted via the main office: office@dovelands.leicester.sch.uk