Pupil Premium FAQs

Each year the Manchester Virtual School Team conducts Personal Education Plan (PEP) moderation exercises which include consideration of our responses to the different types of Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) requests made by schools and Post 16 settings. Below, you can find answers to frequently asked questions related to Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) which have been raised by Designated Teachers, Social Workers, Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) and Parents/Carers. These have been updated following the 2024-25 Virtual School PEP moderation exercise.

What can Pupil Premium be used for?

Pupil Premium Plus for Looked After Children is to be used to improve their educational attainment and to close the attainment gap between them and their peers.The funding can be used for any intervention that will have a positive impact on the educational outcomes of the child in care. As each child will have their own unique set of needs, it is difficult to provide a definitive list of interventions. However, the education setting should know which strategies and support would best suit the needs of the child. Pupil Premium Plus funding requests are not automatically approved. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis through the Virtual School PEP quality assurance process.

Does the young person have a say in how the PP+ is spent?

The young person’s views, wishes and feelings about their education must be central to the PEP process and help to inform their termly SMART targets. In consultation with the Virtual School, the setting will then determine how the PP+ funding can be best deployed to help the young person meet these targets. Where a young person has asked for experiences, resources or support which cannot be funded via PP+ other funding sources should be explored.

Can parents, foster carers, kinship carers or residential children’s home workers determine how the PP+ is spent?

Foster carers and residential home staff play a crucial role in contributing to the discussions within the PEP meetings. However, it is ultimately up to the education setting in consultation with the Virtual School, to determine how the PP+ will be used and to be accountable for the outcomes achieved. Whereparents, foster carers, kinship carers or residential children’s home workers have asked for experiences, resources, or support which they feel will help the child but cannot be funded via PP+, other funding sources should be explored.

What happens if the child is dual rolled with another school?

If one of our children is dual rolled, for example in alternative provision, the termly PP+ instalments will be paid to the school which is registered as the principal base. It is expected that the PEP process will involve both settings and, in consultation with the Virtual School, both will determine and record how the PP+ funding is to be used to support the child to achieve their SMART targets.

What happens if a child changes education settings during the academic year?

The education setting that submitted the most recent PEP will be in receipt of that term’s funding. The receiving setting should liaise with the previous setting to arrange for the transfer of remaining funds, or any resources that have previously been purchased for the young person. This applies to education settings both in Manchester and in other local authorities.

When a young person changes education setting between two termly PP+ payments, the local authority will always endeavour to ensure the second payment is made to their new education setting.

What happens if a child comes into care mid-year?

When a child comes into care mid-year, PP+ funding will be allocated to their education setting on the receipt and approval of their first completed PEP. This first PEP should take place within 20 days of the young person coming into care.

What happens if the young person is on track to meet national age-related expectations?

When a young person is assessed to be on track to achieve national age-related expectations, every effort should be made to support them to make accelerated progress. Where resources or interventions are required to achieve this, it may be necessary to use PP+ funding.

As with all children and young people in local authority care, work should be ongoing to support them to develop and pursue their aspirations. This may involve using PP+ funding to enable the young person to access specific opportunities which will widen their experiences and support them in pursuing their goals. Where it is felt that a young person would benefit from any experiences, resources or support which cannot be funded via PP+, other funding sources should be explored.

Can PP+ be used to purchase school uniforms, support for Foster Carers or transport to school?

The Department for Education’s (DfE’s) Pupil Premium Plus Conditions of Grant state, “Any PP grant held centrally must not be used to fund services that the local authority is responsible for funding, such as support for foster carers, school uniforms or transport to get the child to school.” Therefore, the Virtual School will not approve the use of PP+ to provide these items or services. Where these are required, the Designated Teacher and carer should in the first instance, speak to the young person’s Social Worker.

Can PP+ be used to fund residential trips?

The Virtual School will not automatically approve all requests for PP+ to fund residential trips. If the education setting assesses that by supporting the young person to participate in a residential trip, they will be supported in their learning, it may be appropriate for a proportion of the PP+ to be used towards the cost. The intended impact of the trip on the child’s learning in a particular curriculum area should be clearly outlined as a SMART target within their PEP. Other available funding streams to support this type of activity should also be considered by the Designated Teacher and Social Worker for example the Foster Carer’s Allowance. Requests for funding for residential trips will be considered by the Virtual School on a case-by-case basis.

Can PP+ be used to purchase Therapeutic, Occupational Therapy (OT) or Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) interventions?

Education settings should not use PP+ to fund a long term Therapeutic, Occupational Therapy (OT) or Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) intervention. This is because funding needs to respond flexibly to the changing needs of each child and young person, which may include needs that this particular service is unable to meet. However, there may be instances where PP+ funding can be used on a short term basis, to contribute towards the costs of a Therapeutic, OT or SALT intervention with a young person, if it can be clearly evidenced that this service is making a significant contribution to supporting their educational progress and achievement. This type of support must be regularly reviewed through SMART targets and the child’s termly PEP review cycle.

Where a child requires this type of support there should be detailed information recorded within their PEP about their level of SEND, about the type of intervention, the time scale for the intervention, the intended outcomes and the impact. A copy of the invoice for the service being purchased should be uploaded to the documents section of the child’s electronic Personal Education Plan (ePEP), to ensure a clear audit trail.

If this provision is required for more than a term, other funding sources need to be considered in order to sustain this intervention. This may include the review of a young person’s EHCP where they have one or if appropriate, consideration of requesting statutory assessment. Referrals to other services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) should also be considered.

Can PP+ be used to buy laptops or other devices?

It may be appropriate for a proportion for the PP+ to be used towards the cost of a device such as a laptop, tablet, camera or a particular piece of software. The education setting must demonstrate through a SMART target within the PEP how this will support the young person to achieve the best possible outcomes across the curriculum or in a specific piece of work. The education setting must also confirm proof of purchase by recording this within the child’s PEP. To ensure a clear audit trail, the education setting should also upload the invoice for the to the documents section of the young person’s electronic Personal Education Plan (ePEP)

Resources that have been bought with PP+ funding will go with the young person when they move to a new education setting.

Can PP+ be used to purchase bikes or scooters?

PP+ should be used to improve the educational outcomes of children and young people. The Virtual School will not usually approve the use of PP+ to purchase bikes or scooters. Where it is felt that the young person would benefit from having a bike or a scooter the Designated Teacher, Social Worker and parent/carer should first consider all other available funding sources. When the purchase of any kind of bike or scooter is being considered for a young person, care should be taken to mitigate against the potential risk of involvement with child criminal exploitation (CCE). Please also note, close attention should be paid to the UK rules on the riding of electric bikes or scooters if this is being considered for the young person.

Can PP+ be used to purchase sportswear?

PP+ should be used to improve the educational outcomes of children and young people. The Virtual School will not usually approve the use of PP+ to purchase sportswear. Where it is felt that the young person would benefit from having sportswear items the Designated Teacher, Social Worker and parent/carer should first consider all other available funding sources.

Can PP+ be used to cover Prom costs?

PP+ should be used to improve the educational outcomes of children and young people. The Virtual School will not usually approve the use of PP+ to cover Prom costs including clothing and transport. Where it is felt that Prom costs should be covered for the young person the Designated Teacher, Social Worker and parent/carer should first consider all other available funding sources.

Can PP+ be used to fund breakfast clubs?

PP+ should be used to improve the educational outcomes of children and young people. The Virtual School will not usually approve the use of PP+ to fund breakfast clubs. Where breakfast club provision is required the Designated Teacher and carer should first speak to the child’s Social Worker about available support.

Can PP+ be used to fund after school clubs?

PP+ should be used to improve the educational outcomes of children and young people. The Virtual School will not usually approve the use of PP+ to fund after school clubs. Where after school club provision is required the Designated Teacher and carer should first speak to the child’s Social Worker about available support.

Can PP+ be used to fund training in a young person’s education setting?

If a child or young person requires a specific intervention to support them in education, it may be necessary for the setting’s staff to receive training to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding. For example, this may include training to develop a whole setting understanding of early childhood trauma and attachment. In these cases, it may be appropriate to use a proportion of the PP+ to fund specific training. The intended outcome for the young person should be detailed as a SMART target within their PEP. The date of the training should be confirmed in the young person’s PEP and the invoice from the training provider should be uploaded to the documents section of the young person’s PEP to ensure a clear audit trail.

Can PP+ be used to fund a post such as Designated Teacher, teaching assistant, or pastoral staff member?

PP+ funding must not be used to fund the post of the Designated Teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children or the SENDCo, as these positions are both statutory requirements.

Education settings should not use PP+ to fund a permanent position within a staffing structure. This is because funding needs to respond flexibly to the changing needs of each child and young person, which may include needs that a single member of staff is unable to meet. However, there may be instances where PP+ funding can be used to support work with a young person, if it can be clearly evidenced that a member staff is making a significant contribution to promoting their educational achievement. This provision should be over and above what is universally available to them, for example, access to a tutor, learning mentor or sports coach. This type of support may only be required for a limited time so should always be treated as a temporary arrangement. It must be reviewed as necessary through SMART targets and the termly PEP review cycle.

What happens when a child attends an independent mainstream school?

Manchester City Council (MCC) will always encourage social workers to apply to state funded schools in a good position to meet the needs of the young person. However, if consultation with the Virtual School Head it is agreed that the child’s needs are best met at an independent, fee-paying school, then, after every effort has been made to secure available bursaries, it is the local authority which will be responsible for the payment of any school fees. In these exceptional cases, a proportion of the PP+ funding will be used to contribute towards the payment of any associated school fees. However these arrangements should not be put in place without the agreement of the Virtual School Head.

If a child is awarded a bursary or scholarship by an independent mainstream school, any additional funding requirements which could be met by PP+ funding must be detailed within the PEP and agreed through the Virtual School PEP quality assurance process.

Can EYPP be used to fund additional nursery hours?

EYPP should be used to enhance the Early Years experiences and educational outcomes of children. Any additional nursery hours need to be funded either by the foster carer or from social care budgets. Where it is thought a child would benefit from additional nursery hours the Designated Teacher and parent/carer should speak to the child’s Social Worker about available support.

Will the Virtual School always approve a PP+ payment?

PP+ should be used to improve the educational outcomes of children and young people.The Virtual School will assess, on a case-by-case basis whether the Pupil Premium request is appropriate to meet the educational needs of the young person as identified within their PEP and linked to their SMART targets. The PEP Quality Assurance Teachers will contact education settings about any queries about Pupil Premium requests. If the request is declined, the Virtual School Team is available to advise Designated Teachers about possible alternative interventions and resources to better meet the needs of the young person. Where a PP+ request can not be approved the Designated Teacher, Social Worker and parent/carer should consider all other available funding sources if it is felt that the young person would benefit from the identified resources, experience, or support.

Contact us

If you have any further questions, please contact a member of the Virtual School by emailing [email protected]