Our commitment
At The Kassia Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every learner has the support, opportunities and encouragement they need to succeed. We recognise that disadvantage can create additional barriers to education, and our approach aims to improve achievement, strengthen engagement and raise aspirations.
Pupil Premium is additional government funding intended to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged learners. Eligibility includes learners who meet the relevant free school meal criteria, or have done so within the previous six years, and children who are looked after or were previously looked after and meet the qualifying criteria.
Funding at The Kassia Academy
Many of our learners are dual registered, meaning that they remain on the roll of a mainstream school while attending The Kassia Academy. We therefore do not receive Pupil Premium funding directly for every eligible learner who attends our provision.
Funding is generally allocated to the school where a learner is recorded as solely registered or dual-main registered in the relevant school census. Where The Kassia Academy is the subsidiary school, any transfer of Pupil Premium funding is agreed between the schools concerned.
We work with commissioning schools and local authorities to identify learners’ needs and coordinate appropriate support.
How we plan support
Our Pupil Premium planning focuses on identifying barriers to learning and selecting support that responds to those barriers. Our priorities are to:
- Strengthen teaching and provide appropriate academic support.
- Address gaps in learning, particularly in literacy and numeracy.
- Improve attendance, engagement and readiness to learn.
- Support social, emotional and mental health needs.
- Promote access to enrichment, careers guidance and successful next steps in education, employment or training.
Specific activities and expenditure are set out in our Pupil Premium strategy and budget plan. Funding decisions are informed by learners’ needs and evidence of effective practice. Pupil Premium is not an individual personal budget; some approaches may benefit a wider group of learners.
Children in Care
Pupil Premium Plus funding for Children in Care is managed by the responsible local authority’s Virtual School Head. The amount made available to the academy is determined through the Virtual School’s arrangements.
We work with the Virtual School and other professionals through the Personal Education Plan (PEP) process to identify priorities, agree support and review its impact. Funding and outcomes for Children in Care are monitored separately to ensure that support reflects each learner’s needs.
Monitoring and impact
Our planning considers both academic progress and the wider factors that enable learners to succeed, including attendance, engagement and wellbeing. Reviewing the impact of support helps us identify what is working and where adjustments are needed.
