To dislike the fact my child is assumed to be failing

[sandsandthesea]

Because she’s on free school meals?

[Fruitcorner123]

Who assumes she's failing?

[sandsandthesea]

Apparently she needs extra tuition despite not being behind in any subjects and I queried it and was told she’s on free school meals and all schools do it.

[JudgeTinder]

That's the Pupil Premium Grant. Even if your child is achieving above average they are entitled to extra tuition. I am a teacher and this is standard (and compulsory!) use of PPG funding.

[DamsonOnThisDress]

If that's the case there are many assumed to be failing.

Working in a school, ime, who gets free meals has no bearing on anything and only matters to the person taking the dinner orders.

I really hope no one has suggested this. If it's the government and media, well, you know your child. Government like their statistics. Your child is more than that.

[Somewhereovertherainbow13]

It’s probably the pupil premium money allocated to each child on free school meals. Doesn’t mean she’s failing just means she’s entitled to extra money which most schools use to provide extra help regardless of the child’s ability. Most parents complain their children don’t get enough support...

[Pengggwn]

This happens in my school and it gets right on my nerves. It is a terrible message to send children, and it risks stigmatising them because it is obvious very quickly to their peers who is on FSM.

[GreenTulips]

who gets free meals has no bearing on anything

It's gets pupil premium
Free music lessons
Free language lessons

Etc
Etc

Take it - all helps

[Mookie81]

It's called pupil premium. Statistically children on free school meals do worse than children not eligible. Schools receive money for each child on free school meals and they have to show how that money is being used to support that group. It doesn't mean they are failing or assumed to be but the money has to be earmarked for extra support. Ofsted always ask schools how that money is being spent.

[museumum]

What a waste. Either use extra money for whole-school benefits or properly target the recipient children with what they would actually benefit from.
This sounds like box-ticking (as usual).

[MarthasGinYard]

Is this really what happens

Blimey it's no wonder education is in such a state.

Would annoy me also Op

Sweeping generalisation

[Mookie81]

In our school it also means free school trips.
Enjoy the extra benefits and stop complaining

[DamsonOnThisDress]

Aaah, is this just England and Wales? Not familiar with it.

So a government initiative then. A clumsy attempt at redressing the balance?

How on earth do they afford that?? There are so many children in schools who desperately need support but can't get it due to lack of funds.

I can see what they're trying to do but why not just provide support needs based. Instead of these sweeping initiatives. Is this actually feasible? How can so many get extra tuition? Who pays? I don't understand.

[Bettiedraper]

If they are offering free music or language lessons for your child why wouldn't you bite their hand off?
Presumably these are things you might not otherwise be able to afford, thus putting your child at a disadvantage compared to others who can have private lessons and holidays abroad etc.

[sandsandthesea]

She doesn’t want music or language lessons anyway but it’s maths and English.

[sandsandthesea]

And don’t be so patronising!

[soapboxqueen]

Free school meal uptake has been a metric in schools for decades. We know statistically that children on free school meals do not do as well as children who aren't. We cannot know specifically which children will do better than others unless we wait until they have finished school and then travel back in time to put in support.

Therefore we put in extra funding now.

[MarthasGinYard]

Quite

I'd find it all extremely patronising myself Op

[Celticlassie]

Music and language lessons could be invaluable in the future, and they are things that are being cut very widely. I'd definitely encourage my child to take them, if she was offered.

[Pengggwn]

I know there is a correlation, but that doesn't mean all children on FSM need this help. If they are meeting their targets, the help should go elsewhere.

[lovetoomuchfood]

I'd bite their hand off too! Firstly to get the free school meals, and the free school trips etc etc. And more tuition? All the better! Doesn't mean she's failing at all!

[multivac]

Even if your child is achieving above average they are entitled to extra tuition. I am a teacher and this is standard (and compulsory!) use of PPG funding

This is inaccurate. The PPG does not have to be spent on tuition - and as a governor, I would challenge this decision as an inappropriate use of the funding.

[sandsandthesea]

I don’t know why everyone is talking about languages. She isn’t musical at all.

[soapboxqueen]

sands different schools so different things with the money. Some pay for or Cotribute to trips or music lessons etc etc

[Cleanermaidcook]

It's PPG, it does have to be spent on something that the receiving child participates in but it doesn't have to be tuition.

[sandsandthesea]

Maybe but my daughter doesn’t have to do them.