At Stockton on the Forest, it is our vision for every child to feel valued and respected and become happy, healthy and successful learners. It is our intention that every child should be able to make good progress, have positive self-esteem and have positive aspirations, irrespective of their background or the barriers they face. Common barriers to learning for children in receipt of pupil premium may be: poor or declining attendance or punctuality, less engagement in school and extra-curricular activities, weak language and communication skills , social and/or emotional health issues, the ability to fund trips and other enrichment events, movement around schools affecting curriculum and possibly complex family situations.

“The Pupil Premium has one central aim: to raise the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils. In doing this, it also supports our mission to close the wide and persistent gap in achievement that separates children who grow up in poverty from their more affluent peers.” The focus of our pupil premium is to support this intention and to help to reduce or remove barriers. All of our children will receive outstanding Quality First Teaching, have access to good learning resources, be supported by skilled and knowledgeable staff and, where needed, receive additional, evidence-based academic or social, emotional support. We use our pupil premium grant to be able to deliver this inclusive teacher and learning to all pupils through staff training and purchasing of evidence-based high-quality resources.

When making decisions about using Pupil Premium funding we consider the context of the school, the subsequent challenges faced, the needs of the pupils. We use the recommendations from EEF research to ensure that we carefully consider the best way to use our pupil premium funding. The DfE acknowledges the importance of pastoral support to build positive self-esteem and growth mindset.

Our ELSA sessions, Wellbeing workers and Team around the Family support is crucial for us to support children and families. We intend for our pupil premium to support all pupils to:

• Learn from high-quality teaching.

• Develop high-quality interactions

• Build positive relationship and have positive self-esteem

• Be supported in foundation learning to support success in future learning

• Prioritise reading as a skill that allows access to the wider curriculum

• Feel included in their learning and in the wider curriculum

• Have good attendance and punctuality, with additional support where needed.

The school's Pupil Premium Leads are:

Miss Joanna Collins (Headteacher/ DSL/ SENCO)

The designated Pupil Premium Governor is: Mrs Joyce Botham

Further information is available here: Pupil premium: overview - GOV.UK