|
|
Post by mr.vml3m on May 27, 2014 15:50:58 GMT
We had a nice surprise.
Youngest (year 1) has a school trip coming up, duly sent off the form and a cheque for £17.50.
Cheque returned in the envelope marked "payment not required".
Hmmmmmmmm.
When we inquired at the office, they explained that it was part of the premium funding they get for our girls, so any school trips and any after school activites they want to do, all the costs will be met by the school.
I have to say, having read on here lots of other people not being able to get the school to part with any of the funding, I was shocked but quite impressed.
So, next term, I think we'll find some clubs for them to join!!!
I love our school, they do so much for both our girls, lucky to have found them.
|
|
|
|
Post by swimchic on May 27, 2014 17:10:34 GMT
You are..
Mine are dreadful..Haven't got pp plus. No support for Pink. I want to move her!
|
|
|
|
Post by moo on May 27, 2014 17:36:37 GMT
Great news.... Think we might have to move to your neck of the woods....  
You are blessed it makes such a change?!? 
Xx. moo. Xx
|
|
|
|
Post by swimchic on May 27, 2014 19:18:25 GMT
So people any ideas how I can get it???
I've emailed the Head of virtual schools, the Adoption Manager from the LA we adopted Pink through..
She is in reception and I have evidence that she is entitled to it!
HELP!!
Swimchic
x
|
|
|
|
Post by leo on May 27, 2014 19:37:02 GMT
Swimchic, it is linked to the school census (which used to be annual but in our LA is now completed each term). It is usually whoever is responsible for the pupil database in the school office who is in charge. There will be a part of each pupil's 'form' on the database where they can select 'previously looked after child'. You can change this database at any time a pupil's data changes and all the data is then sent to the LA when the census is due; this will then trigger the funding coming into the school. Some schools ask for confirmation of this status, some are happy to accept it verbally.
The school will not receive the funding until the next funding release (again, depends on the LA - ours only releases certain funding once per year - so if you have a Statemented child arrive just after the census then you don't receive any funding for that year!)
Hopefully, a visit to the school office will be successful!
|
|
|
|
Post by swimchic on May 27, 2014 19:48:42 GMT
Thanks Leo, I know that..
The school secretary got it wrong and did it wrong in January, so hence no funding..
I am aware that there was another census in May as we had to give the school a copy of her new adoption certificate then..
So fingers crossed!
Swimchic
|
|
|
|
Post by leo on May 27, 2014 21:14:20 GMT
Oh dear! It's a classic that office staff get no training other than the basics of how to use the system - many don't realise the importance of the census in terms of how it triggers certain funding!
Hope she gets the allocation this time - although personally I would be writing a letter to the chair of Governors stating that as it was a school mistake, she should be allocated the money from within the school's own budgets (that might prompt them to be a bit more careful next time!)
|
|
|
|
Post by leo on May 27, 2014 21:16:02 GMT
ps. Moving Hurricane and Tsunami from their entirely unsympathetic and hopeless 'Outstanding' school was the best thing I ever did!
|
|
|
|
Post by corkwing on May 28, 2014 8:12:43 GMT
Hi -
As an ex-governor, YOU don't get the pupil premium funding. The school get it. They also have to account for it and it must SPECIFICALLY be used to meet the child's needs. That means that they MUST identify the child's needs and then come up with a plan to meet those needs and use the funding specifically for that. The aim is to increase the child's achievement. That doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be focussed on extra lessons and stuff like that: it could equally be used - and is sometimes better used - on underlying problems or issues.
From the DFE website, they hold the school accountable "requiring schools to publish details online each year of how they are using the pupil premium and the impact it is having on pupil achievement". In other words, they need to say, "we did this and it resulted in child X going from level A to level B".
To be honest, I'm not sure that paying for school trips and clubs is appropriate use of the funding, particularly as you were prepared to pay for the school trip yourself. To me, it sounds more like the school finding something to spend the money on rather than looking at the child's needs and using the money to meet those needs.
Examples that we were given of appropriate use were more along the lines of extra one to one literacy (but the school would have to prove that they had employed someone specifically for that); more appropriate books in the library; sessions to work on self-regulation or self-esteem; employing someone to liaise with parents where there is poor attendance; etc.
So, although getting the free trips is good for your finances, it might not actually be what your daughter needs.
All the best,
Corkwing
|
|
|
|
Post by milly on May 28, 2014 8:41:16 GMT
Agree with Corkwing. The school might be called on to account for their use of the money eg by Ofsted. I can imagine it might possibly be justified for a child on free school meals whose family couldn't afford an educational trip (free school meals get pupil premium funding too) - not so sure re an adopted child.
The problem I see schools might have is that adopted children get a much higher amount than free school meals children. Now while the money doesn't have to be spent on each individual child who qualifies, it could be tricky if there are only one or two adopted children and they don't have any particular needs - then it's harder to know how to use the money. But it should be used to raise achievement in some way.
Did the school consult you over this? My dd's school asked us for ideas - dd is a fairly high performing pupil with no obvious ( to the school) needs. I would not have been happy if they used the money to fund trips as we have no issues over paying ourselves, but obviously don't know your situation.
|
|
|
|
Post by milly on May 28, 2014 8:47:26 GMT
Swimchic - schools don't need the PPP to provide support though obviously the funding might help them do so. They have a duty to provide for your child's needs. If they are showing no interest in doing so I would worry on that score - if they have the wrong attitude getting PPP isn't going to be the answer. £1900 might sound a lot but it wouldn't provide what a child with complex needs would require. In terms of support it might offer a TA for a limited amount of time or a few days staff training.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2014 12:00:25 GMT
To be honest, I'm not sure that paying for school trips and clubs is appropriate use of the funding, particularly as you were prepared to pay for the school trip yourself. To me, it sounds more like the school finding something to spend the money on rather than looking at the child's needs and using the money to meet those needs. I agree with Corkwing, I 'm not sure paying for a school trip that you could obviously afford in any case was the right use of funding.PPP is supposed to be used for furthering your childs education and using it to pay for a trip that you could afford is a bit of a waste IMO. Sounds like they don't really know what the funding is for. And in any case school has a fund for school trips already for families who cannot afford trips so that no child is left out because the parents can't afford it. I'd question it TBH, if it were me and would pay the £17.50, insisting the PPP goes on something more appropriate or useful for DD like extra 1:1 tuition if she needs it, or getting someone in to educate the teachers on attachment if DD doesn't. |
|
|
|
Post by swimchic on May 28, 2014 14:06:25 GMT
Well, since I added my bit on here, I've heard from the Head of Virtual Schools.. This is the response
"Thank you for your email. I will certainly look into this for you. Obviously the school won’t be receiving the PPG+ for adopted pupils as this was based on the January census and Pink wasn’t adopted until March. It may be that she could be entitled to some through the Virtual School as a looked after child prior to March –I will pass this on to a colleague."
Hmmm???
Swimchic
|
|
|
|
Post by gilreth on May 28, 2014 17:05:49 GMT
Well she would be entitled as a LAC then as PP+ for LAC & PLAC.... So school should have it one way or another
|
|
|
|
Post by swimchic on May 28, 2014 20:20:35 GMT
That's what I thought! I've emailed school requesting a meeting to get this sorted.
Fed up with it!!
Swimchic
|
|
|
|
Post by sivier on May 28, 2014 20:23:47 GMT
Not surprised you're fed up with it swimchic! - what a pain, hope it gets sorted soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by swimchic on May 29, 2014 19:27:20 GMT
The Head of Adoption rang today..She is getting involved with it..I've emailed school for a meeting with the current Head and the teacher who will be the new Head in September.
Fingers crossed!
Swimchic
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemisscheerful on May 30, 2014 7:38:47 GMT
I didn't know about the PP when my girls were placed and they did a term at school pre AO. Presumably, the census should pick this up? Does the LAC census get filled in more often than the annual PP+ one in January?
It is a bit hit and miss, isn't it, that if you move schools the money doesn't transfer, so there is a degree of swings and roundabouts.
|
|
|
|
Post by swimchic on May 30, 2014 17:36:24 GMT
Sort of great news!
Just heard from the head of adoption..Long story short, but Pink is entitled to £600 for when she was a LAC. So from September - March.
Apparently, the virtual schools have been in touch with Pinks school to organise what to do with the money.
Shame its taken getting the people at the top to get involved, but really pleased to have an answer and know that she will be getting what she is entitled to!
|
|
