COVID-19 Catch-up Premium

In June 2020 the government announced £1 billion of funding to support children and young people to catch up on missed learning caused by coronavirus (COVID19). This is especially important for the most vulnerable pupils and pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who we know have been most affected. This funding includes a one-off universal catch-up premium for the 2020 to 2021 academic year to ensure that schools have the support they need to help all pupils make up for missed learning.

Based on the October census (70 pupils) we will receive £5600 in funding (£80 per pupil) in 3 instalments.

This funding will be used to support those children identified as in need of extra support, including:

  • Children that didn’t engage with remote learning
  • Vulnerable children and children with SEN needs
  • Children that experienced difficult family circumstances during lockdown
  • Children that have gaps in social skill as a result of not being able to socialise with other children
  • Children that have not shown appropriate progress due to lack of challenge

In the Autumn term, Miss Douglas took on the responsibility for our catch-up programme. The class teachers assessed the needs of their cohort and discussed these with Miss Douglas who set up a catch-up programme which is run 3 mornings per week.

The needs identified by the class teacher include:

  • Phonics - poor pure sound recall and blending skills not as developed
  • Reading - fluency and comprehension skills
  • Maths - basic skills, fluency and maths reasoning
  • Social and emotional development as well as confidence
  • Handwriting - fine motor skills and letter formation
  • Creative writing - using imagination and developing narrative structure
Therefore a variety of interventions  have been put in place across all year groups, such as:
  • 1:1 and small group phonics work
  • 1:1 and small group reading
  • 1:1 and small group writing and handwriting
  • a social skills group
  • a book club
In addition to the catch-up programme implemented, we are looking to move towards continuous provision in Year 1 and Year 2. Volunteers are invited back into school to read with our children across all 3 year groups, prioritising target readers.