Funding

There a range of funding streams that schools can utilise to effectively support children in care or those who have previous care experiences.

Early Years Funding and Pupil premium

Children in care from the age of two are eligible for free early years education / childcare and the equivalent of 570 hours for children aged 3 to 4, with a possible extension of up to 30 hours for exceptional circumstances as agreed with the child’s social worker.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) was introduced in April 2015 as additional funding for early years settings and is currently £302.10 per annum for children in care between the ages of 3 and 4. This funding is devolved termly to early years settings and is administered jointly by both Birmingham’s Early Years and Childcare Service and the Virtual School.

Pupil Premium Plus

The Department for Education (DfE) allocates the Pupil Premium Plus (PPP) grant to each Local authority.

The purpose of the grant is to close the attainment gap for children in care so as to improve their educational outcomes.

The DfE publishes a Conditions of Grant document which sets out the arrangements and funding allocations for all types of pupil premium including PPP.

The Virtual School Headteacher is responsible for the use of Pupil Premium Plus and it is administered in Birmingham as per our Pupil Premium Policy. Currently school’s receive three termly instalments of £500 per child in care.

Refer to our Pupil Premium Plus policy for Birmingham children in care

Pupil Premium for children previously looked after

PP+ for previously looked after children is paid directly to schools by the ESFA at a rate of £2345 per pupil registered in the January census.

Schools are responsible for recording the number of eligible pupils in their January census so that the funding will follow into their school budget in April.

Children are not eligible if they have been adopted from outside England and Wales, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as from overseas unless it can be demonstrated that they have been previously looked after by a public authority, a religious organisation or other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society.

Children who are home educated are not eligible for the grant. Refer to our Pupil Premium Plus Policy and Guidance for Children Previously Looked After.

Post 16 funding

Young people aged 16 to 19 may be able to get a bursary to help with education-related costs.

The government publishes information on post 16 funding.

Page last updated: 7 March 2023