The Service Pupil Premium (SSP) was introduced by the Department of Education as part of the commitment to delivering the Armed Forces Covenant. This premium enables schools to provide extra, mainly pastoral, support for children with parents in the Armed Forces. Schools receive £335 per Service Pupil.
Pupils attract the SPP if they meet one of the following criteria:
- one of their parents is serving in the regular armed forces (including pupils with a parent who is on full commitment as part of the full time reserve)
- one of their parents died whilst serving in the armed forces and the pupil receives a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the War Pensions Scheme
- they have been registered as a ‘service child’ on the January school census at any point since 2016.
Ever 6 ‘service child’ measure: SPP was extended, such that any pupil in reception to year 11, who has been flagged as a service child since the January 2016 census, will continue to receive the premium (Ever 6 service child).
Children have to be flagged as service children ahead of the January school census deadline. Service parents need to make the school aware of their status by talking to the head teacher or school admin staff.
We want every child to achieve their very best and understand that the experience of children in the Armed Forces can be different from that experienced by many other children. We regularly welcome military families into our school community and recognise the challenges for both the children starting at new schools, and for parents stepping into another school community whilst often dealing with the impact of a serving family member being away.
We have a member of staff trained as an Emotional and Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) who can provide additional pastoral support to help children settle quickly and achieve their very best while at Horningsham. Our ELSA will also support pupils during periods of deployment if needed.