Pupil Premium

At The Blue School, the Pupil Premium provides us with a focus on children who need extra support to flourish and aspire. This focus supports their ambition to achieve as well as their peers and to achieve the educational outcomes they are capable of.

We know that the most significant way we can help children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds succeed is through excellent teaching in every lesson, every day. “Quality First Teaching” is designed to meet children’s needs and challenge them to learn and remember more.

Our curriculum is rich and interesting, enhanced by after-school clubs, instrumental teaching, workshops and outings. We support disadvantaged families by funding these activities so that all of our children can participate equally.

During the lockdown many of our disadvantaged families faced enormous challenges. We provided them with additional support by continuing to educate the children in school, alongside children of critical workers. We maintained regular contact with parents, and delivered food parcels and bags of books. Where parents preferred their children to learn online at home we provided them with a Chromebook.

We have continued with many aspects of online learning and In KS2 most of our homework is via Google classroom. Where required we continue to loan Chromebooks to children eligible for Pupil Premium, and also provide support for an internet connection.

Families who are disadvantaged live with significant pressures which can increase stress and have an impact on children’s emotional wellbeing. Additional support for children’s wellbeing, social and mental health is provided where this is needed.

While nationally there is still a large attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers, this gap tends to grow as children grow older. Our goal is to avoid this gap developing by tracking each child carefully and considering what she or he needs to thrive alongside her/his peers. Many disadvantaged children are very able; our school is a safe and happy place where we have high expectations of every child, encouraging each individual to excel.