DfE Summer Schools Programme

The aim of the summer schools programme is to deliver a summer school offering a blend of academic learning and enrichment activities. DfE’s recommended focus is on incoming year 7 pupils, although schools have flexibility to draw in other pupils according to need. Schools are free to run a one-or two-week summer school and may choose to involve different pupils over that time, according to their needs. This could mean that more pupils benefit from a shorter summer school.

Summer school provision with a mix of academic and pastoral activity has the potential to support attending pupils to make up for some of their missed learning, with broader benefits including support for vulnerable children and young people, pupil mental health and wellbeing, improved education engagement and transitions, and reduced youth violence.

The Y7 transition is known to be a challenging one for some pupils, and the impacts of the pandemic have increased this challenge. Pupils leaving primary school this year may have missed a significant proportion of KS2 face to face teaching and therefore missed valuable preparation for secondary education. They cannot make this time up during KS2, so need support during transition.

Funding is allocated on the basis of 50% of schools’ existing year 7 cohort (330,00 pupils), with a floor of £1000 for those schools with very few Y7 pupils. The mean average school would receive c£44k.  The per-pupil amount for a 2-week summer school is £597, with a 3x uplift for special schools and alternative provision. Testing with the Recovery Advisory Group and Head teacher unions indicates these per place rates are credible. If they prefer, schools would be able to offer a one-week summer school to 100% of their Y7 pupils, within the same funding envelope.

Schools will decide whether they wish to run a summer school and apply for funding. Secondary schools should work closely with their feeder primary schools to identify the pupils most in need. Secondary schools may also work in partnership. Offering a strong enrichment offer alongside academic content would create a more attractive offer to pupils, as would ensuring that pupils from a range of backgrounds are involved, in order to reduce stigma for disadvantaged or vulnerable children.

The summer education recovery package includes:

• £200m for one-or two-week summer schools, aimed at incoming year 7 pupils. Summer schools are optional and are to include a mix of academic and enrichment activity, aimed at improving pupils’ mental health and wellbeing as well as providing an educational boost
• Additional Oak National Academy resources in key subjects to be made available for teachers and pupils from the second half of the summer term to support education recovery. The resources will include holiday work plans, a menu of priority lessons and assessments, and guidance to help teachers, parents and pupils make the best use of the resources
• Holiday Activities and Food programme, through which LAs offer free, optional holiday club provision to children eligible for benefits-related free school meals
• Broader LA/third sector/school summer activities, youth and childcare provision
• DCMS sector offers
• Catch-up and Recovery premium investment by schools
• NTP provision

More information is available on the DfE website at this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summer-schools-programme

Optional multiplication tables check service open on DfE Sign-in

The June 2021 multiplication tables check (MTC) is optional for schools who choose to administer the check to some or all of their year 4 pupils.

Schools can now access MTC service through DfE Sign-in to:

• check their pupil register and ensure all participating pupils are included
• allow pupils to use the try it out check to familiarise themselves with the format and see if access arrangements meet their needs
• record any pupils who will not take the check

Extension of COVID Winter Grant Scheme

The government has announced an Extension of COVID Winter Grant Scheme up to 20th June.  BCC will be using this funding to provide a week of free school meal vouchers for the May half-term.

DfE claims window for additional costs incurred from providing free school meals

The claims window to claim for additional costs incurred from providing free school meals between Monday 4 January and Friday 5 March 2021 will close at 23:59 on Tuesday 4 May.