Shropshire Virtual School Pupil Premium Plus FAQs

What is Pupil Premium Plus?

PP+ is a grant that the Department of Education allocates to Virtual Schools for the purpose of raising attainment. It should be used to enhance achievement based on well-evidenced interventions to help children achieve their full potential.

Who is Pupil Premium Plus for?

Children who are currently looked-after are eligible for PP+ if they have been in care for at least one day and are in year groups from Reception up to the end of Year 11.

How much is Pupil Premium Plus?

In the financial year 2023-24, the grant that comes to Virtual Schools is £2430 per looked-after child. Shropshire Virtual School sends £430 each term for each child to their school (except for independent settings). Extra PP+ can be requested at any time by contacting the VS Link – but if possible discuss it at the PEP.

How will I know what PP+ has been spent on?

In the PEP the school describes what the PP+ has been spent on and what the outcomes were – for example how their spelling improved after a phonics intervention.

Can Pupil Premium Plus be used for out of school activities?

If the activity supports achievement, PP+ can be used for wider opportunities. For example, gymnastics or horse-riding may improve confidence, motor skills and engagement in learning. Contributions to school trips can be considered however it is best to have a discussion with the child’s VS Link person in order to check well in advance.

What happens to the Pupil Premium Plus not sent to schools?

Shropshire Virtual School acts as a ‘good parent’ would and aims to best use the remaining amount to fund initiatives that will support achievement and attainment. Examples of this are tuition or educational psychology.

What are some examples of what Pupil Premium Plus is being used for in Shropshire?
  • Participation events such as theatre trips, music workshops and outdoor education
  • Educational psychology support and training
  • Letterbox parcels
  • Mentoring
  • Training on areas such as nurture, attachment and trauma, aspirations etc
  • Tuition
  • and much more!

What happens in the Early Years?

Early Years Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) is an entitlement for children who are accessing quality provision and meet the required eligibility. Detailed information can be found on GOV.UK.

In summary, a child will be eligible for EYPP if the child receives either:

  • The universal 15 hours entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds or
  • The 15 hours entitlement for 2-year-olds receiving additional support or
  • 15 hours entitlement for children aged 2 years of eligible working parents or
  • the 15 hours entitlement for children aged 9 months to 2-year-olds of eligible working parents

AND

they meet any of the other criteria, which include currently being looked after by a LA in England or Wales or they have left care in England or Wales through an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order.

EYPP becomes payable from the beginning of the term following an eligible child turning 9 months old or the beginning of the term following their second or third birthday.

All Early Years providers who provide early years entitlements provision to children eligible for EYPP are eligible to receive the EYPP.

Where a 3-4 year old child, a 2 year old child or a child aged 9 months to 2 years is also eligible for the additional 15 hours entitlement for eligible working parents, EYPP is paid on the first 15 hours only, up to a total of 570 hours in the year. Where children are looked-after by a LA, the LA must fund the EY provider a flat rate of at least £1 multiplied by 570 hours (at least £570 per year).

Funding the EYPP for the child is the responsibility of the LA in which the setting is based. Find out more from the Department for Education guidance.

Learn about Shropshire’s application process for EYPP and complete the application form.

It's essential that this form is completed in order that the child’s EYPP funding can be released to their EY setting. Without this form, the EY Funding Team are unable to process this payment.

If a child is attending an Early Years setting in Shropshire, the setting will receive payments directly from the Shropshire Council Early Years team.

On receipt of PP+, Shropshire Virtual School would expect as a result to be able to see in the child’s PEP how settings are effectively using the grant to benefit the child’s educational development and needs.

Information on Pupil Premium Plus for previously looked-after children

  • Parents or carers should inform the school of their child’s status so that this fund can be applied for.
  • ‘Previously looked-after children’ includes children who were looked after by the Local Authority and ceased to be looked after due to adoption, special guardianship order or child arrangements order
  • PP+ funding goes directly to the school (not via the Virtual School)
  • How a school spends PP in general should be on their website
  • PP+ is not a personal budget for individual children, however previously looked-after children are highly likely to have barriers or gaps in their learning as a result of their experiences and the allocation of PP+ recognises their need for support.
  • At Shropshire Virtual School we support early planning for transitions around leaving care and are happy to have a conversation at PEPs on how to use the PP+ grant before the order is granted.