Shefford Lower School

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Pupil Premium

What is Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the UK Government to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in state-funded schools in England.

It is allocated to schools for pupils who:

  • Are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) or have been eligible in the last 6 years

  • Are Looked After Children (LAC)

  • Have been previously looked after

  • Have a parent serving in the Armed Forces

The purpose of this funding is to help close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

Our Vision

At Shefford Lower School we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of background or circumstance.

We are committed to:

  • Removing barriers to learning

  • Raising academic achievement

  • Supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing

  • Providing enrichment opportunities that broaden experiences

  • Ensuring equality of opportunity for all

Our approach is rooted in high expectations, inclusive practice and evidence-based strategies.

Our Approach

Our approach focuses on three pillars that we believe

are important for all students and in particular our pupil premium cohort:

Aspire – In line with our vision, we want pupils to take every chance life has to offer, to achieve and to aim high. Children will be exposed to high quality role models throughout the curriculum and will have close links with the community and careers. Our PBL opportunities will ensure children see purpose to their learning linked to real world situations. Tailored support and targeted interventions will support pupils to make excellent progress.

Belonging – We will ensure that all pupils feel that they belong to a community. They will engage with the wider life of the school community, will impact sportively on the local community and will see themselves as citizens of the world. Staff will be skilled in creating a sense of belonging and the family support team will support families to feel a sense of belonging within the wider school community. Each individual pupil will be truly known with their interests and wishes known and their barriers clearly identified on an individual basis. Exposure to a wide range of opportunities alongside strong relationships and personalization will support a sense of belonging for our pupil premium students. Leaders will know the needs of the local areas which will be closely matched to the Shefford Evolutionary curriculum. The support offered to families extends into the holidays providing all year round support and connection. The school endeavours to be at the heart of the local community and strives to impact positively on the community.

 Cultural Capital - There are a range of opportunities at Shefford Lower and we strongly feel that no child should be at a disadvantage. Wee want children to be excited about their futures and to embrace opportunity. We support children to enjoy their play through pupil agency in the curriculum, through our OPAL provision, through our Forest School, our sports opportunities and our widerange of music opportunities. Older pupils are encouraged to work with younger pupils through the wide range of leadership opportunities across the school. The range of trips, visits, guest speakers, community excursions and career days enables pupils to thrive. Exposure and engagement with the museum also supports cultural development. Our curriculum is closely matched to our Cultural Dashboard and knowledge of the local area and our community.

 

How We Use Our Pupil Premium Funding

We carefully analyse pupil data and individual needs to ensure funding has maximum impact. Our strategy focuses on three key areas:

High Quality Teaching

  • Evidence-based CPD for staff

  • Adaptive teaching strategies

  • Targeted feedback and assessment

  • Small group tuition

  • Early reading and phonics support

Targeted Academic Support

  • Additional phonics and reading interventions

  • Maths intervention programmes

  • 1:1 or small group tutoring

  • Speech and language support

  • Booster sessions for Year 6

 Wider Strategies

  • Emotional wellbeing and mental health support

  • Access to school trips and residential visits

  • Breakfast club provision

  • Attendance support

  • Subsidised extracurricular activities

  • Uniform assistance where needed

Impact of Our Pupil Premium Strategy

We measure impact through:

  • Progress and attainment data

  • Phonics screening results

  • Reading age improvements

  • Attendance data

  • Pupil voice

  • Monitoring and evaluation cycles

Our aim is that disadvantaged pupils:

  • Make at least expected progress in all year groups

  • Achieve well in reading, writing and maths

  • Develop confidence and resilience

  • Attend school regularly

  • Participate fully in school life

Accountability & Reporting

Our Pupil Premium strategy is reviewed annually by:

  • The Senior Leadership Team

  • The Governing Body

We ensure our spending aligns with guidance from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and Department for Education.

Free School Meals

If you believe your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, we strongly encourage you to apply — even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and receives Universal Infant Free School Meals.

Registering may also mean the school receives additional funding to support your child.

Please contact the school office for advice and support with applications.

Pupil Premium: Our Golden Thread Strategy

At our school, Pupil Premium is everybody’s business.
It is the golden thread that runs through every aspect of school life — from classroom teaching, to SEND, from leadership decisions to family support.

You can see our “Golden Thread Strategy” diagram below which shows a child at the centre with different school teams working around them.

This visual represents something very important: your child is at the heart of everything we do. Every team in school plays a role in removing barriers and helping pupils thrive.

The Teams Supporting Your Child

The diagram shows how different parts of school work together. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

What This Means for Your Child

Rather than being one separate programme, Pupil Premium shapes:

  • How we teach

  • How we monitor progress

  • How we provide additional support

  • How we work with families

  • How we design our curriculum

  • How we allocate funding

Our approach is guided by research, including evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation, which shows that high-quality teaching and early intervention make the greatest difference.

 

How We Know It’s Working

We regularly review:

  • Academic progress and attainment

  • Attendance

  • Behaviour and engagement

  • Pupil wellbeing

  • Participation in enrichment activities

  • Feedback from pupils and families

Our strategy is reviewed and refined throughout the year to ensure it makes a measurable difference.

Our Promise to Families

We believe:

  • Disadvantage should never limit ambition

  • Every child deserves the same opportunities

  • Support should be proactive, not reactive

  • Strong partnerships with families make the biggest difference

If you ever have questions about how Pupil Premium support applies to your child, please contact us. We are always happy to talk through the support available.

Together, we ensure that the golden thread of equity, care and high expectations runs through every classroom and every child’s journey.

PUPIL PREMIUM STRATEGY

 

 
 
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