Covid Catch Up
COVID-19 Catch-up premium funding
School closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on our pupils’ learning and education. In June 2020, the UK government announced £1 billion of funding to support children and young people to catch up on missed learning.
We have received funding aimed to support the pupils mostly affected by the pandemic and the wider school closure. The overall aims of the expenditure of the catch-up premium strategy are:
- To reduce the attainment gap between our disadvantaged pupils and their peers
- To ensure all pupils can access learning whilst off site
- To ensure the wellbeing of all pupils
- To raise the attainment of all pupils to close the gap created by COVID-19 school closures
Use of Funds
Schools should use this funding for specific activities to support their pupils to catch up for lost teaching over the previous months, in line with the guidance on curriculum expectations for the next academic year.
Schools have the flexibility to spend their funding in the best way for their cohort and circumstances.
To support schools to make the best use of this funding, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has published a coronavirus (COVID-19) support guide for schools with evidence-based approaches to catch up for all students. Schools should use this document to help them direct their additional funding in the most effective way.
EEF Recommendations
The EEF advises the following:
Teaching and whole school strategies
- Supporting great teaching
- Pupil assessment and feedback
Targeted approaches
- One to one and small group tuition
- Intervention programmes
- Extended school time
Wider strategies
- Supporting parent and carers
- Access to technology