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Original poster

Pupil Premium

16 replies

Manthide · 20/11/2018 14:07

My dh is a gambler and we have basically been living on nothing for the past 4 years but he didn't want to claim benefit. Anyway he has finally realised after dd was left crying as we couldn't afford a cucumber for her school cookery class that we would have to make a claim. I phoned up about free school meals yesterday and she is now entitled to them. I understand the school can now claim the pupil premium for her - she is 10. She is worried that she will now be singled out in some way. She is a high achiever - her two older sisters are Cambridge graduates. Will she be treated differently?

OP posts:
ladyorangemarmalade · 20/11/2018 14:09

Not at all - the pupils won't know.

PouchofDouglas · 20/11/2018 14:18

not at all.
THe kids who do get it at ours are very cool about it.

How are things with you though?

Original poster
Manthide · 20/11/2018 14:28

It's just yesterday afternoon - I had phoned the council in the morning and they said they would contact the school immediately - my daughter's maths teacher got her on her own and asked her if there was anything she could do to make sure she achieved at the level she was capable (she is in year6). She has just had the results of her mock maths SATS - 116.

OP posts:
Original poster
Manthide · 20/11/2018 14:55

I'm okay but I think Christmas is going to give us a miss. DD told me not to worry as she's just pleased her sisters can come home for Christmas but then she has faith in Father Christmas!

OP posts:
PouchofDouglas · 20/11/2018 16:32

why are you sticking with H?

This is no life

BubblesBuddy · 20/11/2018 16:41

The PP the school gets for your DD should be spent on her. When there are cases where “closing the gap” in educational attainment isn’t really necessary, the school can look at enhancing her education in other ways. Ditto the secondary school next year. She will not be singled out. I know very bright forces children who get it (a smaller sum) and no one knows. The money can help with buying a cucumber! Or a school trip.

ShalomJackie · 20/11/2018 19:09

As she gets older the fact she qualifies for fsm will actually help her if she is of Oxbridge quality.

BubblesBuddy · 22/11/2018 18:24

Well it should if the pp money is directly targeted at the DD. Many schools fail to do this for the brighter children. Keep tabs on what is being offered to her.

Original poster
Manthide · 22/11/2018 23:03

Dd had cookery today - no cooking - and was told what they would be making next week. The 'provided for' children were asked to come to the front at the end of the lesson. Dd didn't want her friends to know so didn't go forward. I think there should be a better way to deal with it. (I will of course buy the ingredients as they aren't that expensive or many this week).

OP posts:
brizzledrizzle · 25/11/2018 18:45

Do schools have to tell parents how the PP money is being spent? Not per school but for their own individual child?

My DCs get PP but I've never been told how it's been spent.

TeenTimesTwo · 25/11/2018 22:27

brizzle No, not per child, the PP is for the whole of the PP qualifying cohort. There should be info on the website showing how it is spent.

HettieBettie · 25/11/2018 22:41

There should be a spend and impact and review of PP funding onwebsite and paper copies at office.

The fact that school single out pp Chn publicly is fucking horrendous. I’d point that out right away OP. Not inclusive or mindful of chn social, emotional health. And actually I think against Gdpr.

I hope you’re OK? Is H in recovery? GA?

Original poster
Manthide · 25/11/2018 23:43

That's what I thought. Don't know if I have the energy to complain. H is in denial and is now trying to encourage dd2 to give him money. I am wondering how to get him to leave - I don't see why me and the children should go especially as ds has aspergers. According to him nothing is mine - or ours- it is all his unless it is over 30 years old ( the time I have known him). I think he had NPD. I'm a bit worried dd2 doesn't truly appreciate how manipulative H is.

OP posts:
HomeMadeMadness · 28/11/2018 09:39

I think you need to get advice for getting DH out of the house as a priority. You should get professional legal advice. Can you contact the citizen's advice bureau and see where to go from there? I know there are other organisations who can offer help hopefully someone will be along to suggest the soon.

BeanBagLady · 30/11/2018 09:57

You need to get yourself to the Relationship Board.

It is horrifying that you and the children have lived like this and seem to concede to your H as to whether or not you claim benefits etc.

The damage done to your kids in living with this controlling, manipulative, gambling addicted man goes way beyond being exposed as needing help to buy a cucumber.

You have rights. Find out what they are and use them in the protection of your children.

BubblesBuddy · 30/11/2018 23:31

The point about asking what is spent on your child is that pp money is for closing the gap. Often when children are doing well, there isn’t a gap. Therefore these children might not get much spent on them and no child should have to suffer the indignity of being singled out. However it’s worth trying to talk to the school about the needs of DD so that money can be targeted effectively. Schools don’t always know what a child needs and what their home life is like if no one tells them or advocates for them. However parents cannot demand how the money is spent but carriers to learning should be identified and help provided by pp money.

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