Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is additional funding for schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities and to close the gaps between them and their peers. The funding is allocated to schools for learners up to Year 11 who:

  • Have been eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years (FSM6)

  • Are currently in the care of the Local Authority

  • Have been adopted from care or left care through a special guardianship or residence order

  • Have parents serving in the Armed Forces

At Wilds Lodge, we recognise that these groups of learners may face particular barriers to learning, progress, and wellbeing. The Pupil Premium enables us to provide targeted interventions that address these barriers and ensure every learner can thrive.

Wilds Lodge determines how best to use this funding, guided by our therapeutic approach, which is at the heart of everything we do. As a therapeutic school, we believe in equality and collaboration between therapy and education. Every learner deserves the right support to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our Pupil Premium strategy is holistic, aiming to remove barriers to learning through carefully structured therapeutic interventions. Pupil Premium will be used to provide additional therapeutic support to improve progress and attainment among those groups who are socially disadvantaged. The funding will be used to narrow the gap between the achievement of these learners and that of their peers.

Learners eligible for Pupil Premium funding should be able to access the best possible advice, guidance, and support to enable progression to high-quality 16–19 education or training. Elements of the funding may be used to support this aim.

Pupil Premium funding will be allocated according to need. Wilds Lodge will identify which individuals and groups of learners are a priority for additional therapeutic support or intervention. We will monitor and report the impact of the provision funded by Pupil Premium, ensuring that the money is used to have a positive impact on the outcomes of disadvantaged students.

Funding limitations mean that not all eligible learners will access therapeutic interventions simultaneously; however, our allocation model ensures equity of opportunity and prioritisation based on individual need. The impact of Pupil Premium expenditure is monitored regularly through:

  • Progress and attainment data analysis

  • Individual learner reviews and therapeutic assessments

  • Pupil voice and engagement measures

  • Reports to governors and the senior leadership team

We evaluate the effectiveness of each intervention to ensure that funding is used efficiently and has a measurable impact on outcomes. Adjustments are made annually in line with emerging priorities and learner needs.

Children who are in the care of the Local Authority may receive additional Pupil Premium Plus funding. This funding is used to provide bespoke therapeutic and educational support in line with each learner’s Personal Education Plan (PEP). We work in partnership with the Virtual School to ensure that this funding directly supports individual progress and wellbeing.