What is Covid19 Catch-up Funding?

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium grant was introduced in July 2020 and is allocated to schools to support pupils by tailoring the use of the funding to the identified gaps to attainment. The government believes that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium grant, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current adverse effects caused by Covid19 school closures.

Children and young people across the country have experienced unprecedented disruption to their education as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). Those from the most vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds will be among those hardest hit.

Foxdell Schools Federation recognises this and is committed to supporting all pupils to overcome any barriers to learning. We know that many of our families are highly likely to have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly by the school closures, and may need more support to return to school and catch up on missed learning opportunities.

Across the Federation, we have had to make adjustments to the organisational and logistical aspects of school life; however, we continue to have high expectations for our pupils and strive to ensure that all pupils achieve their potential. We want to ensure that the Covid Catch up funding maximises impact on pupils’ progress across the school.

School allocations have been calculated on a per pupil basis, providing each mainstream school with a total of £80 for each pupil in year’s Reception through to 11.

For the 2020-21 academic year, schools must publish their Coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium strategy with reference to:

• the total amount of  catch-up premium allocated to the school
• a summary of the main barriers to educational achievement faced by the school
• how the COVID-19 catch-up premium allocation will be spent to address those barriers and the reasons for that approach