COVID catch-up fund (2020-21)

• Regression of Reading Age or verbal/oral skills 
• Lack of literacy fluency and/or efficiency
• SPaG regression
• Regression in numeracy skills 
• Significant gaps in specific subjects or the students whole curriculum 
• Reduction in the strength of neural pathways and ‘learning skills’
• Loss of curriculum time to complete course specific activities e.g. coursework

• Standardised baseline assessments linked to examinations (KS2, Year 11 and 13)
• Localised Baseline Assessments for taught content (Year 8-10)
• Enhanced literacy/numeracy programmes
• Extended Learning time for key year or vulnerable groups 
• Tuition (Internal vs External e.g. National Tuition Programme) – year groups, vulnerable groups etc.
• Targeted After School intervention 
• Traditional learning resources – THA Learning Kit
• Additional Tech resource – Hegarty, Audible etc 
• Holiday Intervention e.g. Autumn School
• Staff CPD – TT Education School Improvement providers for targeted CPD

• Significant reduction in positive social and relationship skills 
• Lack of confidence in academic and social ability 
• Lack of emotional resilience and regulation
• Irregular sleep patterns and routines or adhering to timings
• Poor attendance 
• Poor diet and hydration 
• Safeguarding concerns*
• Family concerns

• Attendance and Welfare Officer
• Increased parental communication and/or supportive programmes
• Mentorship programme (Internal vs External)
• SEMH workshops and/or staff training
• Well-Being kit e.g. water bottle etc
• Well-Being champions (staff)
• Sport Clubs and activities 
• Staff CPD – TT Education School Improvement providers for targeted CPD on staff well-being

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the digital divide between students across all Key Stages. Access to a digital device can significantly enhance student progress and begin to address the gaps in the knowledge and skills brought on through less face to face teaching. The use of the COVID premium to support the roll-out of a 1-1 loan device scheme will ensure no student is disadvantaged by a lack of a digital device. 

All students in Key Stages 3 and 4 will receive a Google loan device with access to high quality resources and materials through their Google Classroom platform and operating system. These devices will be embedded into students virtual and blended lessons to ensure they are used highly effectively across the entire academic year. 

Baseline Assessments provide the academy with the ability to identify gaps in students learning using a valid, reliable source. This information is then interwoven in the fabric of the child’s curriculum, to ensure students access a broad, balanced curriculum that addresses gaps in learning. 

Examples of these Baseline Assessments are:

Year 7 – Students completed two papers in English and two papers in maths designed by LAT Primary Directors of Improvement utilising KS2 SATs papers 

Year 11 – Students completed a suite of formal papers designed explicitly on all knowledge and skills taught through Home Learning during the period of academy closure

Year 13 – Students completed a suite of formal papers designed explicitly on all knowledge and skills taught through Home Learning during the period of academy closure

The Academy understands that additional face to face teaching time is a highly effective tool to support student progress and address gaps in learning. The academy will run a variety of week-long holiday ‘schools’ to provide these additional  opportunities for students, these are focussed on the following target year groups:

Year 7 – Targeted English and maths tuition for all students identified via the Year 7 Baseline Assessments (KS2 SATs).

Year 11 – Targeted intervention across students’ entire option portfolio. All students were invited to a minimum of 2 hours of English, maths, science and EBacc option tuition. 

Year 13: Targeted intervention across students’ targeted option portfolio.  

Easter Break

May Half Term

Students feeling prepared and nourished for any examination series is a vital strategy in ensuring students performance is maximised in assessments. Year 11 Breakfast Sessions are targeted to provide 30 minute intensive morning intervention sessions prior to each Mock Exam. Sessions are centred on: English, maths, science, history and Languages.  All students who attend receive a free healthy breakfast. 

Spring Mock Exam Series 

The academy will significantly scale up its remote parental communication this academic year to ensure families are fully supported and informed as to the support offered to students. The academy has allocated finance to provide further communication credits for it’s MIS, thus ensuring all communication is provided as required. 

This consultancy work will focus on creating bespoke training in literature for staff. Two training sessions will be held for staff on meeting the needs of ‘new to English’ learners including access to 25 webinars for staff CPD. This will ensure students and staff are provided with high quality, up-to-date information on accessing literacy based subjects, addressing any gaps in their learning. 

Targeted small scale intervention has been shown by the EEF to provide high levels of student progress. To support this provision of additional support for targeted cohorts of students, the academy will be partnering with two virtual tutor providers to provide targeted intervention in: English, mathematics and science across Key Stages 3 and 4. This remote intervention programme will run alongside a students full timetable and be explicit in its design to address the identified gaps in the students’ learning. 

Student online well-being and academic support is a clear focus for the academy, with all additional financial resource provided to departments to support the provision of virtual resources and texts for students to engage with remotely e.g. MyOn. This can include academic programmes and software to support virtual engagement in lesson and progress, or virtual well-being support packages that students can access to support their mental health.