Pupil Equity Funding Update 2022
Perth and Kinross Council · 30 November 2022
Back to Scrutiny and Performance Committee — 30 November 2022 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL LEARNING AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE 2 NOVEMBER 2022 SCRUTINY AND PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE 30 NOVEMBER 2022 PUPIL EQUITY FUNDING UPDATE 2022 Report by Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (Report No 22/268) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report provides an update on progress made in Perth and Kinross to close the poverty-related attainment gap through the use of Pupil Equity Funding (PEF). It outlines the range of PEF funded measures implemented to improve performance and monitor progress of improvements. It meets the requirements to report on the expenditure and impact of the Pupil Equity Fund. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Learning and Families Committee: • Considers the contents of this report. It is recommended that the Scrutiny & Performance Committee: • Scrutinises and comments as appropriate on this report. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The PEF forms part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) programme, which was launched in February 2015 and is currently in its sixth year. PEF is allocated directly from the Scottish Government to schools and is specifically targeted at closing the poverty-related attainment gap. A total of £130m has been committed to this funding as part of the SAC programme for session 2022-2023. 4.2 Over £215m of targeted funding was invested to help close the poverty related attainment gap in 2021-2022. This marked the first year of investment in an
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expanded £1b Attainment Scotland Fund, which will be provided over the new parliamentary term, after an investment of over £750m in the previous parliamentary term. 4.3 Every council area in Scotland has received PEF and 97% of schools have been awarded funding this session. PEF is allocated to schools on the basis of the estimated number of registered free school meals in primary 1 to primary 3, with £1200 allocated for each child and young person. 4.4 Headteachers have full access to PEF funding and meet regularly with their Finance Officer to review spending. Although funding is allocated on the basis of eligibility described above, Headteachers are permitted to use their discretion in making decisions about which children and young people would benefit most from any particular intervention or approach, whilst keeping a clear focus on delivering equity. Headteachers work in partnership with other schools and their local authority whilst planning improvements. 4.5 There is a continued expectation that funding will focus particularly on literacy, numeracy, health and wellbeing and support the school’s priorities in raising attainment. All schools develop a School Improvement Plan indicating PEF priorities, outlining planning for universal and targeted approaches. 2022/23 Allocation 4.6 In session 2022/2023, Perth and Kinross schools were allocated £1,873,900 of funding. This was allocated to almost all of the 70 primary schools, all 11 secondary schools and 1 special school. 4.7 In funding session 2021/22, a total of £1,809,586 was spent. A carry forward of £1,019,314 was taken into 2022/23. At the end of July 2022, 79% of the 2021/22 PEF allocation had been spent. Guidance and Planning 4.8 Revised Local PEF Guidance was issued to all Perth and Kinross schools in June 2022. This aligned closely with the Scottish Government’s changes in the allocation of SAC funding as reflected in the paper Scottish Attainment Challenge: framework for recovery and accelerating progress published in March 2022. A key change is that PEF allocations to schools are now fixed until March 2026. Interventions 4.9 Schools concentrated on a range of approaches to enhance the universal provision and targeted interventions for children and young people, to support their reconnection with learning in school and address any gaps. 4.10 In 2021/22, PEF plans focused particularly on literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing.
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Monitoring and Evaluation of Impact 4.11 PEF is allocated directly to primary and secondary schools within Perth and Kinross and the local authority is required to monitor and evaluate its use, including reporting to the Scottish Government. Individual schools reported on the impact of PEF interventions within their annual Standard and Quality Reports for 2021-2022. 4.12 During the course of 2021/22, the Raising Attainment Board worked to provide a sharper focus on the stretch aims detailed in the Raising Attainment Strategy. The Board also monitor closely the impact of PEF expenditure and the impact of the identified interventions to close the poverty related gap. 4.13 Almost all schools now measure the impact of their PEF budget through a bespoke tracking tool. A rolling training programme on the use of the tool is delivered by Education & Children’s Services staff in partnership with the Education Scotland Attainment Advisor. 4.14 The School Improvement Team provide support and challenge to schools in relation to raising attainment and closing the poverty related gap as part of their regular quality improvement work. Education Scotland’s Attainment Advisor worked with identified primary schools and secondary schools to analyse data and identify appropriate strategies for closing the poverty related gap in more detail. 4.15 The Analysis and Improvement Team continued to provide support to schools with the Analysis Suite including school data profiles and carried out visits, or remote support, to help schools organise and understand their tracking and monitoring and evaluation data more effectively. 4.16 Every school PEF plan for session 2022-23 has been reviewed and analysed by the Quality Improvement Officer and Education Scotland Attainment Advisor. Detailed feedback has been provided and revisited during the term one school improvement visits Next Steps in Supporting Schools 4.17 To ensure that the use of PEF continues to be monitored and evaluated, the Council’s Education Services will ensure that there is: • Continued promotion of, and support to schools in the delivery of, evidence-based interventions to target aspects of literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing building upon our growing local evidence base. • Effective deployment of Scottish Government Strategic Equity Funding in Perth and Kinross to rigorously map, challenge and support school PEF building upon existing structures and approaches. • Development of the Closing the Gap Tool to create a holistic planning and impact measurement tool.
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• Regular reporting and analysis of progress to the Raising Attainment Board. Author Name Designation Contact Details David Macluskey Service Manager (Secondary Schools) ECSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk 01738 475000 Approved Name Designation Date Sheena Devlin Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) 24 October 2022
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes/None Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement None Corporate Plan None Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement in terms of the following priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (ii). Corporate Plan 1.2 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Plan Objectives: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (ii).
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1.3 The report also links to the Education & Children’s Services Vision, Values and Priorities in respect of the following key Priority area: • Learning and Achievement 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 N/A Workforce 2.2 N/A Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 N/A 3. Assessments 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. The proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: (i) Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. However, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.3 N/A Legal and Governance 3.4 N/A
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3.5 N/A Risk 3.6 N/A 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 Service Managers within Education and Children’s Services were consulted in the preparation of this report. External 4.2 The Education Scotland Attainment Advisor was consulted in the preparation of this report. 5. Communication 5.1 N/A 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above report. 3. APPENDICES 3.1 Appendix 1 - Pupil Equity Fund Report 2021 – 2022 Appendix 2 – Pupil Equity Fund Allocations 2022/2023