Overview

The literacy and numeracy catch-up premium gave all state-funded schools additional funding in 2015/16 to support Year 7 students who did not achieve at least level 4 in reading and/or maths at the end of key stage 2 in 2015.

This additional funding has been allocated to every school because national figures show that, on average, this group does not achieve as well as their peers across the country. This group of students, however, have the potential to do just as well as all other students and the funding is therefore to support schools to address this issue.

Schools received an additional £500 for each student in Year 7 who did not achieve at least level 4 in reading and/or maths at the end of KS2.

For 2016/17, because the KS2 assessments switched from levels to scaled scores, the amount was then calculated from the previous year's allocation and adjusted for any change in size of the year group; it no longer related to any underachievement of the intake.

Similarly, for 2018/19 the government advised that they allocated funding to schools on the basis that they receive the same overall amount of Year 7 catch-up premium funding they received in 2017 to 2018, adjusted to reflect the percentage change in the size of their Year 7 cohort between the October 2017 and the October 2018 school censuses. (number of Year 7 students recorded on the October 2017 school census ÷ number of Year 7 students recorded on the October 2018 school census) × the 2017 to 2018 allocation. This calculation has been retained going forward.

How must this money be used?

Schools assess the individual needs of each of the students who attract the Year 7 catch-up premium to decide the best way to use the funding. We only select programmes and approaches that we know are effective.

How much funding does Becket Keys receive?

We were allocated £7,120 to spend to improve literacy and numeracy progress for the cohort 2019-20.

In 2020-2021 we expect to receive £6,800.

How does the school use this funding?

The school uses this funding to provide extra support for those students who need additional literacy and numeracy support in order to achieve success in line with school and national expectations

Provision available includes:

• 1-1 and small group intervention in English and Mathematics workshops.
• 1-1 and small group reading workshops.
• Small group times table workshop.
• Small group ‘Units of Sound’ workshop, supporting phonological awareness, reading and spelling skills.
• Phonics workshop.
• Fine motor skills workshop.
• Speech and language workshops (Including the Vocabulary Enrichment Intervention Programme – Joffe).
• Purchase of reading pens for some students in receipt of the Catch-up Premium to support reading across the curriculum
• Additions to the school library of appropriate accessible books (fiction and non-fiction) to support independent reading.
• 1-1 learning mentoring (1-1 support).
• 1-1 emotional well-being counselling support.
• Homework support and independent learning resources purchased, such as MathsWatch.

School objectives for spending the grant

For students eligible for Catch-up funding to make expected and better than expected progress academically and to share as fully in school life as all other students.

How does the school measure success?

The school tracks the progress of all students, including students in this particular group. Success is evidenced by the outcomes for these students which demonstrates that they are making progress similar to, or in some cases better than their peers in the school and above average nationally.  All students, regardless of catch-up eligibility, took part in extra-curricular activities.

2019-20

There were 13 Year students who received Wave 2 intervention. We measure the impact of our provision using the following methods:

• LUCID Exact assessments.
• Literacy Online assessments – measuring spelling and reading comprehension ages against baseline.
• Academic progress against baseline in core subjects.

2020-21

We are currently assessing our new intake of students. We anticipate being allocated approximately £6,800 catch up premium during this academic year.