Funding & support

Pupil Premium

We are committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential, regardless of their background or individual circumstances. We use all available funding strategically to remove barriers to learning, promote inclusion and support students to achieve positive educational, personal and social outcomes.

Pupil Premium is additional government funding provided to improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils. It is intended to help schools provide targeted support for eligible students, including those who:

  • are eligible for Free School Meals (or have been eligible within the last six years);
  • are or have previously been looked after by a local authority;
  • are subject to special guardianship, child arrangements or adoption orders following local authority care; or
  • have a parent serving in the Armed Forces.

As an independent special school, Pupil Premium funding is allocated by individual Local Authorities and may vary depending on each student’s funding arrangements and commissioning authority.

We carefully consider the needs of each eligible student when determining how funding is used. Where Pupil Premium funding is available, it is targeted to support academic progress, attendance, engagement, emotional wellbeing, personal development and preparation for adulthood. Decisions are informed by individual needs, including outcomes identified within a student’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), alongside evidence-based approaches to improving educational outcomes.

We regularly review the impact of Pupil Premium spending to ensure that funding is used effectively and continues to provide the greatest possible benefit for our students.

  • To address identified inequalities in progress between groups of students whilst ensuring that all make outstanding progress.
  • To raise attainment and maintain improvement for students entitled to the PP.
  • To raise the self-esteem and career aspirations of these students through targeted pastoral support, enrichment programmes, extra-curricular activities and alternative learning programmes.

Targeted additional support strategies resulting in every student:

  • Maximise progress so that every student makes at least expected progress and many make more than expected progress
  • Maximise attainment
  • Have full access to the curriculum
  • Have full access to pastoral support
  • Access extra-curricular provision, enrichments programmes or alternative learning programmes.

Currently, students’ attainment is assessed in relation to the National Curriculum programmes of study, and students are awarded levels on the National Curriculum scale to reflect their attainment.

Insights School and Skills Academy hold regular subject assessments across all year groups to provide and monitor student progress and attainment. This data is carefully analysed amongst a range of ‘groups’ to determine the best interventions for all Insights students.

The amount of student premium entitlement per Primary students for 2024-2025 is £1345 and £1345 for Secondary students. For Looked After Children a maximum of £2345 applies.

Using the Ever 6 formula database, Insights School is eligible for approximately £96,234 based on an estimated 61 students. However, as an Independent Specialist School it is at the discretion of the Local Authorities and currently Insights has received £1039 of this allocation.

The school therefore, in the absence of the full PP uses its resources effectively to ensure that targeted students are provided with:

  • 1:1 booster sessions in English, Maths and Science has been focused on Key Stage 4 to improve examination grades and in Key stage 3 & 2 in order to narrow the gap lower down the school.
  • Further developments and support programmes which are improving learning in the curriculum, improving social, emotional and behavioural aspects. These include; extra-curricular activities, developing the school’s enrichment programme and alternative learning pathways with the primary focus of raising students’ attainment and engagement.
  • Resources and equipment to support students interests and post-16 pathways.

The school recognises the importance of high quality teaching and learning in ensuring that all students, achieve to the very best of their potential. Interventions include the following:

  • Continued additional staffing in Maths and English to facilitate smaller classes
  • Key Stage 2, 3 & 4 one-to-one intervention provided in English, Science and Maths for underachieving students
  • Revision classes across a range of subjects including English and Maths on after school and during school holidays
  • Overseeing appropriate interventions and monitoring underachieving students specifically with one-to-one support and ensuring students participate in a range of activities
  • The development of the E.A.C.H programme to support and encourage students who find it difficult sustain their attendance or who, because of behavioural or emotional needs, require a change of learning environment and approaches.
  • Discreet social and emotional support provided for vulnerable students
  • Partially funding the employment of an extra therapists and support staff
  • Anti-bullying initiative targeted at all vulnerable groups
  • Funding residential and international school trips for most disadvantaged students
  • Developing the school’s enrichment programme to improve students focus, motivation and engagement
  • Delivering activities that involve development of social skills and life skills for preparation of adult life and employment
  • Funding camping and hiking equipment for DoE excursions and activities
  • The ALP has supported students who are at risk of disengagement. A variety of alternative curriculum options is offered to them, either as full-time placements, or to give a vocational option each week as an addition to the school timetable.
  • Students have been supported in the following vocational areas: long term work experience placements; Hairdressing & Barbering, construction and motor vehicle maintenance.
  • In addition, students have been provided with one-to-one tutoring sessions in English and Maths, with the addition where necessary of personal self-development coaching.

A number of students in particular benefited from this intervention in 2024/2025. These students would not have achieved, had they followed the traditional school curriculum and the additional funding raised independently by the school to support the Alternative Learning Programme was invaluable in providing these students with an alternative curriculum and progression route to the next stage of their education career.

This intervention clearly worked best when students and parents were clear of the pathway being followed and there was regular monitoring from the school.

The area that will be addressed for the next academic year relates to continuing to track, support and progress monitoring of students who are vulnerable and have; a lack of social skills, mental health and well-being needs, have difficulty interacting appropriately in unstructured times of the day, i.e. breakfast time, break time, lunch time and home time. This programme will support targeted students across all key stages. We will also focus on the Covid skills gap and long-term emotional impact that we have identified.

The Primary PE and Sport Premium is not available to independent schools and therefore Insights as a school does not receive this funding.

Despite this, we remain committed to promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity and personal wellbeing. Our Physical Education curriculum provides students with a broad range of sporting, outdoor and physical activities that support physical health, emotional wellbeing, teamwork, resilience and confidence. Students are encouraged to develop lifelong habits that contribute to healthy and active lifestyles.