Catch up Funding 2021
Our school has been allocated £80/pupil of catch up funding to support childrens’ learning following the serious disruption to schools as a result of the pandemic.
As the catch-up premium has been designed to mitigate the effects of the unique disruption caused by coronavirus (COVID-19), the grant will only be available for the 2020 to 2021 academic year. It will not be added to schools’ baselines in calculating future years’ funding allocations.
Using catch-up funding
While schools can use their funding in a way that suits their cohort and circumstances, they are expected to use this funding for specific activities which will help pupils catch up on missed education.
In making decisions about using the funding, we have focussed on:
- Using evidence based research on proven strategies which work to narrow the attainment gaps and adapt these as necessary to meet the needs of our pupils
- Ensure there is robust monitoring and evaluation in place to account for the use and impact of the Premium, by the school and governing body.
- Are focused on clear short-term goals providing opportunities for pupils to experience success.
- Recognise the fact that pupils who have fallen behind are not a homogeneous group and cover a wide range of needs. As such the strategies we use to raise attainment will take these group and individual needs fully into account.
- Use high quality teaching and learning as the preferred way to narrow the gaps in attainment in the first instance.
- Raise aspirations through access to high-quality and relevant educational experiences
- Promote pupil’s awareness and understanding of their own thought process (metacognition) and help them to develop problem-solving strategies.
- Ensure children emotional health and well-being are supported to the highest levels, enabling them to best access academic learning
- Are for children in all year groups not just those in key end points
- Are for the more able, not just those falling behind their peers.
At Neatishead, we know the vast majority of children and parents engaged fully with the high quality of remote teaching offered by skilled staff. Children returned ready, able and enthused to learn. Progress has been strong. However, some independence and social and relational behaviours had been negatively impacted particularly in our oldest pupils. We have used the funding to employ a Life Skills Coach for upper KS2.
Children also had significantly less access to enrichment opportunities to further enhance their learning. Therefore the funding will also be used to further resource the school to use new technologies in a way that enriches and enhances learning.
Evidence outlined by the Education Endowment Fund shows that digital technologies and Social and Emotional Learning both contribute to supporting learning and progress.
Outcomes:
Studies consistently find that digital technology is associated with moderate learning gains: on average, an additional four months’ progress. (EEF)
Evidence shows that Social and Emotional Learning approaches help develop a positive ethos which supports greater engagement and enjoyment in learning: on average an additional four months’ progress. (EEF)
Accountability
School leaders and governance must be able to account for how this funding is being used to achieve the central goal of pupils getting back on track.
The school follows a data driven monitoring cycle continually evaluating and reviewing practice. Ofsted plans to resume routine inspections in 2021. Ofsted will make judgements about the quality of education being provided, and that will include how leaders are using their funding (including catch-up funding) to ensure the curriculum has a positive impact on all pupils.
