Pupil premium funding never spent on my child.

[curlykaren]

My son has just gone into year 5 primary. Throughout his primary years he has attracted pupil premium funding to the school as my income as a single parent is low. I've found out that this year the school are holding mandarin language classes for children of mandarin/bilingual households. I am really good friends with one of the Mum's who has a son in these extra language classes. Her financial and family situation is vastly different to mine, her son doesn't attract pupil premium funding to the school. Over the years my son has had 6 Lego therapy sessions, one book and two trips (to free venues-museums). AIBU to be really fucking pissed off that my son doesn't benefit, in any meaningful way, from this funding when meanwhile the school are offering these extra language classes? If your child attracts the pupil premium funding to their school please share with me what the school offer to enhance their education? AIBU in asking the school how they are funding these classes?

Do you have proof they are using the pp funding for them?

Could your son not have joined the Mandarin classes if he wanted to?

The school have to say where their PP funding has gone every year so I’m sure they wouldn’t mind telling you.

I would think about what he needs to enhance his education and ask if his pupil premium can be put towards that? The school I work in are very good about using it to benefit the pupils individual needs.

No the class was by invitation only to children with background in the language. I don't have any proof at all that pupil premium funding is being used, how could I find out. Presumably, it's reasonable of me to ask how the school are funding it?

I think I would be more inclined to ask how they spend the pupil premium money rather than how they fund a particular class.

It’ll be on their website.

I have previously asked that he benefit from the funding, that year we got a book.

They have to put a statement on the website if it's an English school.

YANBU. Schools are hugely underfunded but there seems to be very limited accountability as to how funds are spent. The other famously non-ringfenced pot is SEN, which is often used on everything EXCEPT Sen.

If schools are incentivised to teach to the test, the disadvantaged kids are already less likely to do well so it makes sense for the schools to spend the money on the kids that will deliver the results, and not necessarily the kids who have a greater need. It’s fucked up.

Details of how pupil premium money is spent must be on the school website. It is usually used for extra staffing so children can be taught in smaller groups.

The school has to justify how PP funds are spent, so you can definitely inquire about that (if it’s not already published on the website). However, EAL is also a “vulnerable” cohort and the school needs to support them (under separate funding).

I can see how they spend the money in VERY general terms. For example....27% of funding was spent on English language remedial classess, 9% spent on maths extension classes for gifted and talented.

There definitely is accountability with regard PP though. It is noted by ofsted and schools have to report on it every year.

That’s not very general terms, that’s quite specific.

I don't think EAL pupils are being supported by giving them lessons in one of the languages they speak at home, they'd be supported with English classes.

Is it, wow I'm surprised I thought it was very non specific.

As others have said, there will be a document somewhere on the website showing what PP funding has been spent on and evidencing the outcomes. But the thing that improves the outcomes of PP pupils more than anything else has been found to be quality teaching, so many schools spend the PP money on ensuring that there is quality teaching rather than things like small group interventions.

Just ask for a breakdown they have to tell you. However it applied to all PP so it can be generalised.

There's evidence that children who receive mother tongue support at school do achieve better all round, actually.

Don't fixate on what other kids get. Go in, and ask how the pp benefits your child.

The Mandarin classes are irrelevant to your beef with the school. Why do you assume pupil premium is being spent on these classes? Your DS is not the only pupil in the school who attracts additional funding or who needs support.

Pp funding isn't specifically for individuals unless it is LAC/post-LAC premium. The school may spend it as they see fit to narrow the gap between pp and non-pp in terms of progress.
YABU

I am sure the language classes are charged for, or funded from EAL budget or similar.

Any one able to share with me what their child's school does for their child with the funding?

Our school used the money to send pupil premium children to the zoo last year.
They also get priority places in after school clubs ie/ yoga or art.
However, they have told us all before that just because certain children receive the funding - the amount won't be spent solely on the child it is allocated too if that makes sense?
We are still non the wiser where else they spend the money other than the examples that you've posted about before that they list on the website x

But that is specific.