Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) funding
What is Pupil Premium Plus?
Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) is additional funding provided by the Department for Education to support the educational outcomes of children in care.
The funding is allocated to the Virtual School Head, who is responsible for ensuring it is used strategically to remove barriers to learning, improve educational progress and promote stability in education.
PP+ funding should support improved:
- attendance
- engagement in learning
- progress and attainment
- successful educational transitions
Funding decisions are made through the Personal Education Plan (PEP) process.
How PP+ is Allocated
In Coventry, PP+ funding is allocated through the completion of a high-quality Personal Education Plan (PEP).
The PEP identifies:
- the child’s strengths and barriers to learning
- priority SMART targets
- the provision, intervention and support required to improve educational outcomes.
The Virtual School reviews the PEP and allocates funding based on the evidence presented and the quality of the plan.
PP+ is not automatically transferred each term. Funding is allocated where the PEP clearly demonstrates how it will support the child’s educational needs and improve outcomes.
Appropriate Use of PP+
Pupil Premium Plus should be used to fund targeted provision and support that removes barriers to learning and supports improved educational outcomes.
Examples of appropriate use include:
- 1:1 or small group academic tuition
- Evidence-based literacy or numeracy interventions
- Social, emotional and mental health support, such as ELSA, mentoring or counselling
- Targeted support to improve attendance, engagement or behaviour
- Transition support, including starting a new school or key stage transitions
- Resources that remove barriers to learning, such as equipment, technology or access to learning platforms
- Support for post-16 transition planning and careers education
All PP+ expenditure must be clearly linked to the child’s PEP targets.
Schools should be able to demonstrate how the funding supports improved educational progress, engagement or attainment.
Schools are encouraged to consider evidence-informed approaches, including strategies highlighted by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).
Use of PP+ for Enrichment Activities
PP+ may be used to support participation in educational visits or enrichment opportunities where this supports engagement in learning or curriculum enhancement.
However, priority must always be given to the provision and interventions identified within the PEP that directly support educational progress and attainment.
Funding for trips or enrichment activities should not reduce the resources available for the targeted educational support identified in the PEP.
Requests for this type of support should be considered on an individual basis through the PEP process.
What PP+ Should Not Be Used For
PP+ should not be used to fund:
- core teaching provision that should be available to all pupils
- whole-school initiatives not linked to the individual child
- long-term SEND provision that should be funded through the school’s SEND budget
- general school running costs
- provision that is the statutory responsibility of the school or another service
PP+ is intended to provide additional support to address the specific barriers experienced by children in care.
Monitoring and Accountability
The Virtual School monitors the use of PP+ through the PEP review and quality assurance process.
Schools must be able to demonstrate:
- how PP+ funding has been used
- how it addresses the barriers identified in the PEP
- the impact on the child’s educational progress, engagement or attainment
The Virtual School Head retains oversight of PP+ spending and may challenge or request changes where funding is not clearly linked to improving educational outcomes.