What is the Virtual School?

Guidance for schools

The pupil premium funding for children in care is additional funding allocated to schools to support pupils in the care of the local authority.

The funding is to:

• Help achieve better educational outcomes for children in care
• Close the attainment gap with their peers.

It is the statutory responsibility of the Virtual School Head to manage this fund. They must ensure that any funding allocated meets the child's educational needs, as described in their Personal Education Plan (PEP).

There is evidence that PP+ is most effective when used across 3 areas identified in the DfE's Menu of Approaches, and we would expect schools to prioritise these, in accordance with needs identified in a young person's PEP:

1. High-quality teaching, such as staff professional development
2. Targeted academic support, such as tutoring
3. Wider strategies to address non-academic barriers to success in schools, such as attendance, behaviour, and social and emotional support

Norfolk process for the allocation of the pupil premium grant 2023-24

For details of the Norfolk Pupil Premium Plus funding policy please see guidance which can be downloaded from the bottom of the page.

Schools should ensure that any agreed funding is recorded and evaluated within the pupil's PEP.

For further information read Pupil premium : allocation and conditions of grant 2023-24

Exceptional Funding

All requests for exceptional funding should be submitted before putting an intervention in place, as funding is never guaranteed.

Funding for term-long interventions, such as 1:1 support for a term, should be submitted before the end of the preceding term, to allow us time to consider the request and communicate the outcome.

Deadlines for termly exceptional funding applications:

• Spring term - application to be received by 4 December 2023
• Summer term - application to be received by 11 March 2024
• Autumn term - application to be received by 3 July 2024

We will accept applications after these dates if needs for support cannot be foreseen, but where it is known that support will be needed please submit applications before these deadlines.  Applications should always be submitted before an intervention is put in place.

PP+ panel meeting dates:

• Autumn term: 21 September 2024, 12 October 2024, 16 November 2024, 7 December 2024
• Spring term: 18 January 2024, 8 February 2024, 14 March 2024
• Summer term: 2 May 2024, 23 May 2024, 20 June 2024, 11 July 2024

Need more help?

Contact Clare Farrant, Pupil Premium Manager on 01603 307769 or email clare.farrant@norfolk.gov.uk

Recovery Premium Funding for Children in Care

The recovery premium funding is additional funding provided by the government to support education recovery for the 2023-24 academic year. The recovery funding for children in care is managed by the Virtual School Head.

The Virtual School will work with schools, designated teachers, and colleagues to ensure funding is used effectively and results in impact and improvement of educational outcomes.

The Virtual School is committed to:

• Working in consultation with colleagues in schools to establish an offer to ensure positive impact on education outcomes
• Supporting schools, carers and children in the use of programmes with a clear focus on learning recovery
• Developing a community of practice through the TA Network to support knowledge and understanding of trauma and attachment, SEND, PP+, and attendance
• Offering high quality (subsidised) CPD to schools and settings with children in care on roll
• An intervention offer that supports young people to improve their educational outcomes with an offer for all
• Differentiated and individualised enrichment and enhancement opportunities for children and young people in care from all settings
• Providing opportunities for all children and young people in care that may have been missed due to restrictions of COVID-19

If you would like further information, please contact h.collisonsmith@norfolk.gov.uk.