At Darton Primary School, we want all our pupils to achieve and experience successes in all aspects of their life. Disadvantage is not a barrier to achievement and Pupil Premium funding is used to effectively diminish differences and accelerate progress to support high aspirations for all. Our aim is that there be no difference in the achievements, academic or otherwise, between any groups of our pupils and to do this, we aim to ensure that all our pupils have access to high quality teaching of a progressively challenging, broad and balanced curriculum.
“Good teaching is the most important lever schools have to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. Using the Pupil Premium to improve teaching quality benefits all students and has a particularly positive effect on children eligible for the Pupil Premium.” (Education Endowment Foundation).
In addition to high quality teaching, we will select a small and focused number of strategies that we identify will have the greatest impact upon our pupils. These interventions are delivered by highly trained staff to ensure progress is ensured. We aim to ensure that our Pupil Premium Strategy underpins and enhances the school’s overall strategic aims and planning.
Funding will also support the wider family and community issues such as attendance and a pro-active approach to pastoral support. We also aim to raise aspiration within our school community so every child can make the most of the opportunities with which they are provided.
The identified barriers and challenges for our children are:
Underdeveloped oral language skills and vocabulary gaps on entry to EYFS
Disadvantaged pupils in EYFS do not achieve as well as non-disadvantaged pupils.
Attendance among disadvantaged pupils is lower than non-disadvantaged pupils, with persistent absenteeism being significantly higher.
Social, emotional and mental health issues for many disadvantaged pupils and their families, including a lack of wider opportunities and enrichment activities.
School leaders will be closely monitoring the impact of the spending plan throughout the academic year through, good or better quality teaching, termly work scrutiny, pupil progress/moderation challenge meetings, as well as monitoring of attendance and strategies to support with input from the Education Welfare Officer. The impact of the monitoring process is then reported to governors half-termly. A yearly impact review of the pupil premium spending plan is carried out.
Darton Primary Pupil Premium Spending Plan and Statement of Intent 2025 to 2028