Early Years settings receive the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) for each child they have that meets the criteria set by the Government. We have to show that we have used the money to help disadvantaged children by, for example: improving the quality of their setting; training staff to be more able to support children with extra needs; or provide resources and interventions that help children to catch up.

We have claimed the EYPP for all 3 and 4 year old children at Appletree whose parents receive certain benefits, for example Universal Credit or Income Support, or for children who are in care.

Pupil premium funding allocation this academic year £3800

Pupil premium funding carried forward from previous years (enter £0 if not applicable) £0

Pupil premium strategy plan

Statement of intent

A key factor is that the community we serve is in the 65th percentile on the Overall Multiple Deprivation Index with 80th percentile (E grade) for Health and Disability Deprivation and 75th percentile (E grade) for Crime. The vast majority of our pupils are of White British origin (85%). 14% of pupils are registered as having SEND and 16% of pupils are New to English.

Current assessments show that there is a language gap between our most disadvantaged children and non-disadvantaged. Speech and language development has been highlighted as an area of focus. In addition to this many disadvantaged families do not have access to a wide variety of experiences due to the costs involved and many did not engage with learning during lock down.

At Willow Lane, we want the children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience the same opportunities and experiences as children who aren’t. Their backgrounds should not be a barrier to this. In addition, they should achieve as well as other children. In order to do this, we identify our children’s barriers to learning and work on the challenges they face to help support a successful school experience that promotes lifelong learning and enjoyment.

Challenges in 2022-23

Due to the above and the ongoing movement of our children to primary school. Our needs remain similar to last year. The key challenges are:

  • Language development and vocabulary
  • Interactions with others
  • Personal, social and emotional development

Intended Outcomes

  1. Children will be able to manage their own feelings in interactions with others.
  2. Children will be able to follow routines in preparation for Primary School or their next phase.
  3. Motor development will improve ready for the next stage in the child’s development.

Activity in this academic year

Teaching (for example, CPD, recruitment and retention)

Budgeted cost: £ 15,000 (including teaching)

  • Extra teaching assistant in place to support the needs of PPG and SEND children when ratios are high. This reduction in ratio will allow all key workers and staff to have more targeted support for language development, interactions and motor skills.

Targeted Academic Support

  • Work with external private outside agencies such as Reach Out and Acorns Psychology to help support the needs of the children and strategies to be applies through nursery.

Wider Strategies 

  • Access to health food in setting as part of the rolling snack programme.
  • Access to warm, hot meals.
  • Work with Children and Family Wellbeing to take place to give parents access to support at Appletree through courses ran here.
  • Out of class SENDCO to continue to support the inclusion needs of all children.

Challenges in 2021-22

  1. Language development and vocabulary
  2. Lack of parental engagement or routine
  3. Access to healthy lifestyles
  4. Lack of experiences and interaction with others
  5. Poor Motor Skills Development

Intended Outcomes

  • Increased experiences and involvement of parents for PPG children- Children have a wider range of language and can pick up new words based on experiences.
  • Parents are involved in their children’s learning.
  • Increased physical activity and health lifestyles for PPG children- Active children that make healthy choices
  • Improved self-regulation, independence and behaviour- Children’s self care skills are improving and school leavers are ready for primary school.
  • Improved communication and motor skills- Language and motor skills development gap reduced to 10%.

Activity in this academic year

Teaching (for example, CPD, recruitment and retention)

Budgeted cost: £ 15,000 (including teaching)

  • Extra teaching assistant in place to support the needs of PPG children. This reduction in ratio will allow all key workers and staff to have more targeted support for language development, interactions and motor skills.
  • Introduce motor skill programmes such as Dough Disco and Funky Fingers.
  • Increase the range of experiences for children in order for them to form schema and use experiential learning to increase long term memory.

Targeted academic support (for example, tutoring, one-to-one support structured interventions)

Budgeted cost: As above

There are a number of children in setting that need intensive learning and support.

In addition to the learning support, many of our children need more pastoral support, particularly our disadvantaged children. Time is to be allocated to support DSL with Early Help Plans and to allow for SENDCo out of class release.

Wider strategies (for example, related to attendance, behaviour, wellbeing)

Budgeted cost: £ 2800

Increase of physical activity and provision playtime and snack for all- £2000

Many of our children and families have experienced financial hardship. Being within an area of social deprivation, means that children may not have the resources to access school, such as clothing, homework resources and food- £800

Review of outcomes in the previous academic year- 2020-2021

Pupil premium strategy outcomes

This details the impact that our pupil premium activity had on pupils in the 2020 to 2021 academic year.

If last year marked the end of a previous pupil premium strategy plan, what is your assessment of how successfully the intended outcomes of that plan were met?

  • Attendance has continued to improve.
  • Children at need have accessed early support.
  • Pastoral support has been essential in ensuring contact and support for families.
  • All the children have managed to go a Learning Experience.
  • Wellcomm assessments have shown good progress