Pupil Premium & Catch-up
Pupil Premium Strategy 2023-2026
“Our pupils and their achievements are at the very heart of our philosophy, supported through nurturing creativity and by providing a caring, structured setting in which all can achieve.”
Covid Catch up Grant - £ 45920 (Sept 2020 – July 2021)
How are we spending this and how are we using existing provision to complement the Covid catch up grant?
- Two full time academic mentors have been employed to work across year groups as highlighted by Heads of English and Maths’s.
- The use of CATS testing for all pupils in Year 7 to mitigate the loss of Year 6 SATS testing data
- Additional responsibility for an existing member of teaching staff to manage SatchelOne (Show my Homework portal) and to act as our Remote Learning Lead
- Academic and Pastoral Leads (APPL) are taking a key role in overseeing strategies across the year groups. Monitoring attendance and uptake via Satchel One
- The Mentor (form Tutor) Role has been strengthened. Our Mentor Character Programme was revised to include ‘learner damage’ elements and mental well-being elements
- Extensive CPD programme, focused on use of Teams and Satchel One.
- Upgrading and reviewing ICT Provision so that all pupils could access on-line provision.
- One quarter (149) of the school population has received a school laptop provided through donations or the government scheme.
- In addition, dongles have also been provided to pupils / families, who did not have reliable access to the internet.
- PIXL ‘Gaps and Growth’ resources in English, Maths and some Science.
All members of staff & our governors are committed to meeting their pastoral, social and academic needs of our pupil premium pupils within a caring environment. This is an essential, integral part of the spiritual development of the whole school community. As with every child in our care, a child who is considered to be ‘socially disadvantaged’ is valued, respected and entitled to develop to his/her full potential, irrespective of need. Happy and confident pupils become very successful learners who will move forward in life to fulfil their true potential.
Funding is specifically provided to address two government policies;
- Raising the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and closing the gap with their peers
- Supporting children and young people with parents in the regular armed forces
The Governing Body of The Westwood Academy will ensure that provision is made which secures the teaching and learning opportunities that meet the needs of all pupils, additionally where applicable regard will be given to pupils emotional and social needs.
As part of the additional provision made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups, the Governors of the school will ensure that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and addressed through regular pupil progress meetings.
In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, the Governors of the school recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals or one of the other grant attracting categories will be socially disadvantaged.
The range of provision
- Facilitating pupils’ access to education.
- Facilitating pupils’ access to the curriculum.
- Additional teaching and learning opportunities.
- Alternative support and intervention.
- Summer schools to help disadvantaged pupils make the transition from primary to secondary.
- Small group literacy and numeracy support.
- Support towards setting to allow for the staffing of established nurture groups by specialist teachers.
- Support, when available, the funding of enrichment activities and educational visits.
- Support the funding of specialist learning software.
- Employment of specialist staff.
For relevant Policies see
