Funding
Pupil Premium Plus
Eligibility
Every child adopted from care attracts an annual grant of £2,530 per annum as long as they have been in care for at least 24 hours. This also applies to children and young people with a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or care arrangements order. This funding, known as Pupil Premium Plus (sometimes abbreviated to PPP, PPG or PP+) is paid directly by the government to your school. Your school is required to use the funding to promote educational achievement and emotional and social welfare by providing specific, targeted support. Children and young people are eligible for this grant between reception and Year 11.
In order for your school to receive this grant, each eligible child must be recorded on the annual October school census, and funds are expected to be paid to the school by April each year.
Until 2023, Pupil Premium Plus funding was not available to children adopted from overseas but as long as they are registered on the autumn census, they will now be eligible. Parents will need to provide documentation (which may be redacted to hide sensitive information about birth names and families) that their child has been in care for at least 24 hours. The statutory guidance on the roles and responsibilities of designated teachers suggests that where parents are unable to provide clear evidence of their child’s status, schools will need to use their discretion.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium
To receive the Pupil Premium Plus grant, a child or young person must be registered on the school's October census. If they have not been registered, the funding will not be forthcoming from the DfE.
Early years funding
Children aged 2 years old who have been adopted from care are entitled to a free early education place. They can also benefit from the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) when they are aged 3 and 4. This contributes additional funding to early education placements to help your child’s nursery or childminder to help improve the education they provide for children who need more support. Parents will need to tell you as the education provider that their child is adopted in order for them to claim the EYPP.
https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds
Excellence in Education Plan
Every child and young person looked-after will have a Personal Education Plan, known as a PEP or e-PEP. It provides them with a record of how professionals around the child, such as social workers and education professionals will support their educational needs and achievement. The child or young person looked after will also play a part in expressing their own needs and aspirations at their bi- or tri-annual PEP meetings.
Once a child becomes previously looked-after there is no statutory requirement for a PEP, but the tools provided by it may also be valuable for them, their families and professionals around the child.
Several schools have developed their own version of PEPs for previously looked after children, including Orleans Primary school’s Excellence in Education plan, developed with AfC Virtual School. This is known as an EEP and is now available to be used by all schools. You can download a copy (below) to use as a framework for discussing the educational and wider needs of previously looked-after children in school with their parents and other members of staff.