To dislike the fact my child is assumed to be failing

[sandsandthesea]

Because she’s on free school meals?

And don’t be so patronising!

How am I being patronising, exactly?

It's not about "failing" - many children designated PP are very able, but don't achieve as well as they could. It's about helping them achieve their maximum potential.

Of course, some children on fsm have excellent home lives, parental support, etc and do as well as they can; but most do not. I'm a high achiever (first in my family to go to university, have 4 degrees, achieved a great career, etc) - but was the only person in my A level French group who never went to France (we lived in a tiny house and I couldn't host an exchange student, nor could we afford me to go). It made a difference to my achievement in that subject.

I would find out more details about the tutor. Is it something she enjoys? A weaker area academically? Something that she needs more confidence in? Is there another area that you'd rather the money went on like free music lessons?

My children are on FSM. In primary, my dd has tuition in Maths. She was at expected level in y2 and y6 but needed her confidence boosting. She's doing her GCSEs next year and predicted an 8 (low A*) and I believe that finding her confidence has meant that her grades have soared.

I know a boy on FSM who had a tutor go further than the curriculum for his year group as he was so smart. This is obviously a good use of the money.

My kids are at secondary and the FSM help they get is not academic. They get free trips to the theatre, free CGP revision guides etc

It annoys me as a teacher, but why does it annoy you as a parent, OP? Is it because it's patronising, or is it so she doesn't have to do the extra?

Stats show that children on FSM are less likely to fair well in adult life, it's not patronising as it's fact.

Schools are obliged to try and change that using the money given under pupil premium.

Does she miss a lesson to go to tuition?

Because it is patronising and embarrassing for her.

Bettie she’s achieving fine thanks. She doesn’t need foreign holidays that I can’t sddord.

It annoys me as a tax payer. I think extra tutoring should be targeted at those children who need it most. Obviously!

Children on free school meals (and all this suggests) are far more likely to be failing in the core and extended curriculum than those who don't qualify.

Arguing with statistics won't benefit you.

OP, what happens if you and your DD say she doesn’t want the extra tuition? Do they just ignore you?

In all honesty, i'd take every opportunity I could get for my dc - i think you're looking at it in the wrong way. She's very able and doing well, great, then why not see what other options the pupil premium could give her?

Don't see it as a slight, but as an opportunity.

"use extra money for whole-school benefits"

That's a bit unfair. Taking money meant for poor children and giving it to everyone else.

Children on FSM tend to achieve less well than children who aren’t. This is because many of them are dealing with significant disadvantages. Pupil premium money is an attempt to level the playing field. Don’t knock it.

It doesn’t help her and it embarrassed her. We’ve said no thank you but the school keep pushing it.

I'm not sure how it is embarrassing for your dd. Plenty of children have access to various things for various reasons.

What does your dd's school say they will spend the money on?

Then say no to the school or gain work and come off FSM.

Given all the stats, why would you turn it down? Her life is going to be hard enough as an adult.

If it’s embarrassing for her the school is screwing up. Go and talk to them.

Why turn it down? Take every opportunity given to her!

Perhaps they're using the tutoring sessions to extend her learning as she is able? She shouldn't have to settle for 'fine' is she's capable of 'outstanding', should she?

Part of the aim of the Pupil Premium Grant is to tackle poverty of aspiration...

Your child isn't musical, she doesn't need languages? Or maybe she hasn't had the opportunity to find what she can excel in?

You don't have to receive the FSM 🤨 If your DD is meeting expected standards then maybe she could achieve greater depth with extra support. As all the posters above have stated it's to provide opportunities that you will likely not be able to afford - you have to have a pretty low Income to qualify. IME kids dis don't really know or care or is in FSM or who receives the PPG.

It's a tricky one because I understand completely that the OP does not want her child to be labelled. However, teachers have to know who their FSM and PP pupils are and to ensure that their progress is in line with the rest of their cohort. The PP funding is designed to help bridge the gap that exists in some cases (but obviously not in the case of the OP).

I'll give you an example of 2 of my students (siblings). Both are very high-achieving with supportive but low-earning parents. The PP grant for both children has paid for instrumental lessons, a music exam fee as the exam was held at school, a MFL exchange visit and towards a music tour. Neither child needs any interventions as they are already doing very well. It adds to their all-round education in ways that their colleagues' parents might do in better-off households.

In some schools, all the PP is lumped together to pay for e.g. a specialist teacher to work with those children to bring them up to speed in something. In the OP's case, it might be worth asking what extra activities her child's pot could be spent on if it is not needed for intervention work.

It’s strange she feels so singled out and embarrassed. Interventions in core subjects usually have a mix of FSM and non FSM pupils and are for those who are falling behind.
Sounds like the school are applying the funding ringfencing a little too stringently and it is misplaced if she is not in need of it.

"It doesn’t help her and it embarrassed her."

A massive difference I've noticed (professionally) between students and parents in Indy and State education is that children in independent schools are not embarrassed to accept extra help and happlily take advantage of every opportunity to get ahead.

All schools have to show what they are doing to support pp students. Not saying this is the case but my frustration is many students think that they are doing well enough when they could be doing better. For example - I only need a grade 4 or 5 to get into college when they should be able to achieve a 7.

We direct funding at students to achieve the very best that they can. Learning and having the opportunities to achieve more shouldn't be sniffed at. Just because she is not failing doesn't mean she can't do even better!

I don't see how extra help can be a bad thing. My DS was offered extra help in a subject he is achieving expected levels in, because the teacher thought he could do better. I thought that was brilliant. He's not on free school meals, just lucky to have a teacher who wants to push all the children to do the best they can.