Children on PP being offered a school place

[Givemeabreak88]

Has anyone heard that children on PP are being offered a place at school as they are classed as vulnerable? Apparently a few people have been offered a place for this reason, I didn’t think that was considered vulnerable on its own.

I’ve not heard this but I’d be pleased if it were the case.

My school have offered places to children without internet/own device/quiet space to work. It stands to reason to children who get PP would be over represented in this category. I’ve turned a place down for my daughter. I can reach out of textbooks/with apps on phones and still have flexibility to plan our own day rather than have a strict timetable to be accountable for.

I think each school make up their own rules.
My DS is 15. Adhd and autism. Last lockdown started self harming and became agrophobic which required therepy and she's now on medication.
I'm also a single parent and a key worker in education but school have refused her a place.

It might be down to numbers?

If a school has a low number of key workers children or vulnerable children attending, they might consider PP children...where parents have perhaps asked?

Our school is not doing this as our numbers would be huge.

Interesting, my daughter is going because she has autism and an ehcp but I was feeling guilty about accepting the place, I don’t feel guilty now I know they are offering to PP as well.

@Bonkerz

I think each school make up their own rules. My DS is 15. Adhd and autism. Last lockdown started self harming and became agrophobic which required therepy and she's now on medication. I'm also a single parent and a key worker in education but school have refused her a place.

@Bonkerz gosh that seems harsh. Hard to imagine there would many with higher need than that? Hope you can sort something else out.

If a school has a low number of key workers children or vulnerable children attending, they might consider PP children...where parents have perhaps asked?

Why? Teachers have been saying it's totally unsafe for them to be in school. Why have more children in than absolutely necessary?

@bonkerz that is heartbreaking to hear. I hope she will cope better this time around.

@Nikhedonia

I’m not saying that’s what should be happening, I’m just wondering if that could be the case as personally I haven’t heard of other places doing this? Thinking aloud.

@DBML ah I see. Well I hope it isn't the case.

@Bonkerz can the prescribing doctor/team write to state that she is vulnerable. Sometimes schools listen if there’s an official letter (stating the obvious).

[quote Anothermother3]@Bonkerz can the prescribing doctor/team write to state that she is vulnerable. Sometimes schools listen if there’s an official letter (stating the obvious).[/quote]
School are fully aware of her mental health etc. Cahms doctor writes every 4 weeks after our appointments to push them to provide well-being support in school. It's a waiting game now. I've sent all evidence etc to Sen team and just have to cross our fingers.

Sorry if this is a stupid question but what is PP?

Pupil Premium SeaMonkey. Indicative of coming from disadvantage (of various kinds, as I understand it).

I definitely think it depends on schools... I was surprised to get a phone call from DD's school today offering her a place as a vulnerable child. She's not on pp or statemented in any way but did really struggle with anxiety during the last lockdown, which has affected her in her class since then. When I asked how big class size would be, they were only expecting 2-3 pupils in.

Isn’t pupil premium just means the parents are on a low income??

I think it's also children who have been in care or moved schools a lot as well.

Were on pp and had a call to offer our children a place mon - fri every week

We turned it down as we can manage well at home but was grateful of the call

I think there's a lot of cross over between vulnerable children and pupil premium although they overlap they are not the same thing.

I think a lot of people don't want to discuss their vulnerabilities. Understandably, considering it could be private issues like parental mental health or substance abuse, social worker involvement etc. Or it could be to do with living in homeless housing. Or to do with domestic violence. All things with stigma attached. So it's easier to say you are poor, basically.

Agree Bluesmarties. It's private information between the school and parent. Doesn't need to be justified to anyone else.

As there are a multitude of reasons why a child may have FSM therefore eligible for PP, it stands to reason that many of these will then require a school place. It is good that children with difficult/challenging home circumstances are being considered this time.