Support for children previously in care

Pupil Premium Plus (PP+)

Children previously in care attract Pupil Premium Plus funding. The Pupil Premium Plus will be paid directly to schools for those pupils on roll who were in care immediately before being adopted or leaving local authority care through a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or Child Arrangement Order (CAO - also previously known as a Residence Order). From 1 April 2024, the Pupil Premium Plus grant eligibility for pupils who have been adopted from care or have left care will also include children adopted from state care or equivalent from outside England and Wales.

2023-2024

• Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP):          £388
• Statutory school age Pupil Premium:     £2,570

To be eligible, pupils must be attending either:

• An early years provider including nurseries, school nurseries and childminders
• A local authority maintained or maintained special school
• An academy or free school
• A non-maintained special school, an independent school and other alternative provision where the place or provision is funded by the local authority

Children who are educated at home or attend private schools are not currently eligible unless their placements are funded by the local authority.

Further information can be found on PAC-UK's Education Service website where they have developed a range of resources to support families, schools and local authorities in meeting the educational needs of adopted and special guardianship children including information about Pupil Premium Plus.

Accessing PP+ for a child

In October each year, schools complete a school census. For schools to access the funding, parents and guardians must declare their child's adoptive, SGO or CAO status by providing evidence, for example, a copy of the adoption order, or a confirmation letter from the local authority which placed their child to the school. Please find a template information letter that can be sent out to all families within your setting regarding Pupil Premium Plus within our downloads at the bottom of this page.

Parents and guardians should not need to declare their child's status again unless they change school or setting.

See the payment schedule for the pupil premium.

Adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF)

Families may also be entitled to support from the Adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) which provides funds to local authorities to pay for essential therapeutic services for eligible adoptive, special guardianship order (SGO) and child arrangement order (CAO) families. You can find out more at www.gov.uk/guidance/adoption-support-fund-asf(opens new window).

All other links on this page are correct.

How schools use pupil premium funding

The conditions of grant in the first paragraph needs updating for this link: Pupil premium 2024 to 2025: conditions of grant for academies and free schools - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The designated person or teacher role

Second bullet point needs updating with correct amounts £2,570 and £388 for early years.

Our offer to schools and teachers- wording updated for two sections below:

Universal

• We offer signposting, information and the ability to speak to a Virtual School adviser on Thursday mornings during term time by calling our general enquiries line 01603 303323.
• We are contactable for information about the Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) and guidance about claiming and use.

Targeted

• Advice and signposting for individual children or young people with the parents' or guardians' consent regarding educational matters. The team operates using a referral form initially completed by home, social worker or school/setting. This must be completed and returned to our mailbox Virtual.SchoolsPiC@norfolk.gov.uk. Our mailbox is triaged every Wednesday during term time where an adviser will be allocated to support.
• We offer support setting up our Voluntary Personal Education Plans (VPEPs) for previously in care pupils and provide training and resources to ensure quality and support schools and setting in implementing.
• Guide and support to schools in becoming trauma and attachment aware.
• Participation events for children previously in care and young people.