Dear Parents and Carers
At the end of the first week back I am delighted to be able to tell you how well the children have settled into school. With a third of the children new to the school since lockdown, I would have expected them to take far longer to understand the routines and special way we do things at Stower Provost, but they have all slotted in brilliantly. Even our youngest children are coming in happily, with no evidence of being worried about being in a new environment.
It will certainly have helped the older children that we had well over three quarters of them attending for at least two days a week for the last few weeks of the summer term, but it also helped that so many of you kept to a structure of home learning throughout the term. A huge thank you to you, and well done to all the children.
I have also been delighted to see how smart the children all look too. Thank you for your efforts to have full school uniform each day, including PE kits, which really helps us to keep the high standards we are so proud of. There seem to be a lot of large bags hanging up in the corridors, though, which they do not need at present – please help us reduce the amount of luggage the children bring into school each day by leaving the bags at home.
Thank you also for your efforts at social distancing on the car park, which I realise is not easy. I do appreciate that it is good to meet up with old friends when you are collecting your children, but when they come out from school it looks to be quite crowded if no-one leaves! In order for me to avoid having to stagger the end of the school day, I would be grateful if you would make sure you leave the car park as soon as your child has come out of school.
Some of the requests I am making may, I’m afraid, seem rather Draconian. Unfortunately, a number of local schools with a small number of infections have had to close because their inability to keep to their bubbles, or groups, has led to whole-school quarantining. Coupled with the government’s latest announcement banning gatherings of no more than 6 people, I do need to follow the guidance as closely as possible. Alongside this, it is likely we will have a visit from Ofsted this term to see how effectively we are both teaching the full curriculum and preventing the spread of Covid-19. It would be a shame for us to be criticised for not maintaining a safe environment for the children throughout their school day because of the home routine.
Coming home today are the class curriculum plans for the term. This will give you an overview of the areas of learning the children will be covering in each subject, showing how we are planning to catch up on any missed learning from last year and then pressing on with the programme for this term.
Also coming home today is a letter outlining some potential support for you and for the school regarding additional funding. Please read it through and, if it applies to you, don’t hesitate to contact me.
James Stanford
Headteacher
Pupil Premium information
Dear Parents and Carers,
Re: pupil premium and free school meals
If your child is eligible for ‘free school meals’ and you register them for this, we’ll receive extra funding called ‘pupil premium’. We use this extra money to improve the educational provision and resources at the school.
What is pupil premium funding?
Pupil premium funding from the government is given to schools to help pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation. It’s provided for pupils who:
Are registered for free school meals
Have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years
Are, or have been, in care
Have parents in the armed forces
At Stower Provost Primary School we get an extra £1,345 for every eligible pupil who is registered for free school meals. This extra money could make a real difference to the quality of education we offer.
For example, we’ve previously used pupil premium funding for
Educational provision/resources
Academic interventions
Wellbeing and self-esteem building interventions
Breakfast and after school club fees
Support for School Trips
Is my child eligible for free school meals?
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Universal infant free school meals
Currently, pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 are entitled to a free school meal thanks to a different government funding scheme known as universal infant free school meals (UIFSM). You shouldn’t confuse UIFSM with free schools meals and the pupil premium.
If your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2 and is eligible for free school meals according to the criteria above, you should still register because we’ll receive the extra pupil premium funding.
Does my child have to eat the free school meals?
No. Pupils who are registered for free school meals don’t have to eat them. If you’re eligible but you want your child to have packed lunches you should still register because the school will receive the funding which can support your child in other ways.
How do I register?
You only need to register once at the school.
To register, please contact either Mrs Pike or me. Any information you give will be treated in the strictest confidence
More information
For more information about pupil premium go to our website, which contains details of how the pupil premium has been spent in the past academic year and how it will be spent this year.
If you have any questions or specific concerns, please contact Mrs Pike or me.
Best wishes,
James Stanford