What is Pupil Premium Plus?

Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) is additional funding provided by the Department for Education (DfE) to support the education of children in care. This funding is allocated directly to the Virtual School Headteacher (VSH), who is responsible for managing and distributing it in line with national guidance.

Children eligible for PP+ are those who have been in local authority care for at least 24 hours, from the Early Years Foundation Stage up to the end of Key Stage 4.

Each local authority may take a different approach to how the funding is used:

• Some retain all funds centrally within the Virtual School

• Others delegate the full amount to schools

• Most adopt a hybrid model, delegating a portion to schools while retaining some for strategic support

How Does AfC Virtual School Allocate Pupil Premium Plus?

Delegated Funding

AfC Virtual School delegates £300 per term to schools, paid retrospectively at the end of each term. This is calculated on a pro-rata basis, depending on the number of weeks a child was in care during that term.

For some schools—particularly those located outside the local authority—a funding request form must be completed (see below for details).

If you believe your school has not received expected PP+ funding, please contact us promptly to ensure the young person receives the support they are entitled to.

Important: All PP+ spending must be linked to the child’s targets on their ePEP (electronic Personal Education Plan). The impact of the intervention must be clearly evidenced on the PP+ section of the ePEP.

What Can Pupil Premium Plus Be Used For?

The PP+ fund should be used to support educational progress and can include strategies that address social, emotional or mental health needs that may be acting as a barrier to learning.

Common uses of PP+ include:

• 1:1 tuition in key subject areas

• Targeted intervention programmes aligned with ePEP targets

• Support to enhance wellbeing and engagement where this impacts educational outcomes

We strongly encourage that any intervention is evidence-informed—for example, drawing on resources from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) or the Sutton Trust.

If you are unsure how to make the most effective use of PP+ funding, please get in touch with the Virtual School for advice and guidance.

Requesting Additional Funding

Additional funding may be available at the discretion of the Virtual School Headteacher. Designated Teachers should contact their Assistant Headteacher within the AfC Virtual School to discuss any requests for supplementary funding and ensure the form is completed as required.