In 2016/17 we received £7,315 Year 7 Catch up Funding. This was based on the proportion of students eligible in 2015/16 and adjusted for the cohort size.

As there are more students in our 2017/18 Year 7 cohort, we would expect this funding to increase slightly this year.

In 2016/17 and 2017/18 this funding has been used primarily to create an extra occurrence in Year 7, which is a nurture group taught by the SENCo. We have identified those students who scored 86 or below in Reading or 87 or below in maths as the target group for this funding. The vast majority of students who are eligible are taught in this nurture group, in which teaching is focused on catch up for literacy and numeracy skills, as well as developing social and emotional skills. Students are gradually integrated into mainstream classes throughout Year 7.

These students also receive one additional lesson of literacy and numeracy intervention. The member of staff delivering this and the SENCo work closely together to ensure that the intervention is focussed on gaps in students’ learning.

Students who received this funding in 2016/17 did make progress towards the age-related expectations, as defined by United Learning Assessments, but they did not reach this standard. This was assessed through formal, end of year assessments.