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New guide for schools to support their pupil premium strategy

A new guide from the EEF will support schools to use evidence to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils through their pupil premium strategy.

A comprehensive new guide from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) will support schools to use evidence to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils through their pupil premium strategy.

It follows the publication of a new pupil premium reporting template from the Department for Education, which – for the first time – asks schools to demonstrate they have considered evidence when developing their pupil premium strategy.

The guide builds on the EEF’s tiered approach to pupil premium spending, which encourages schools to consider three core pillars:

Improving teaching: This might include professional development, training and support for early career teachers, as well as teacher recruitment and retention.
Targeted academic support: Evidence consistently shows the impact that one-to-one and small group interventions can have on pupils who are falling behind.
Wider strategies to overcome non-academic barriers to learning: This might include strategies to boost attendance, improve behaviour or provide social and emotional support.

It also offers a new four step model, to support schools in formulating and sustaining a long-term pupil premium strategy. This encourages school leaders to:

Diagnose their pupil’s needs;
Use strong evidence to support their strategy;
Implement their strategy with care; and
Monitor and evaluate its success.

The guide includes a new section on ‘using and interpreting evidence’ aimed at supporting school leaders to engage critically with evidence. It also provides examples of how schools have implemented each of the four steps in their settings and ‘myth busts’ some common misconceptions around pupil premium funding.

Access the new guide here.

Professor Becky Francis, Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:

“We know that disadvantaged pupils’ learning has been most heavily impacted as a result of the pandemic. Our own estimates suggest that the attainment gap will widen significantly, likely reversing the past decade’s progress.

“The pupil premium and recovery premium are arguably the most effective tools we have for addressing these challenges. We must redouble our efforts to make sure that these vital resources are used in ways that make the biggest difference to children and young people.

“Our new guide is intended to support schools to do this. It recognises the opportunity and the challenge created by the pupil premium, setting out a way of using evidence to inform decision-making.”

Source:EEF The Education Endowment Foundation

New guide for schools to support their pupil premium strategy

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