The Department for Education has published an answer sheet listing their responses to the main queries they have received on adopted children and Pupil Premium since their announcement and FAQ’s on Pupil Premium in December 2013.

Why is it that only children adopted on or after 30 December 2005 will attract the Pupil Premium?
For the 2014-15 financial year, only children adopted from care under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (which came into force on 30 December 2005), or who left care under a Special Guardianship or Residential Order, will attract the Pupil Premium.  The decision to link eligibility to adoptions under the 2002 Act was to ensure consistency with our policy on priority school admissions for children adopted from care, and respond to the need to balance competing funding priorities during the current difficult economic climate. The criteria for the Pupil Premium is, however, reviewed on an annual basis and we will, as part of this process, revisit our decision in time for the 2015-16 financial year.

It is also important to stress that Pupil Premium funding is not ring-fenced for the individual child that attracts it.  Whilst schools are held to account for the achievement of pupils who attract the Pupil Premium, schools have the flexibility to spend the additional funding as they see fit.  A school may, for example, decide to train their staff in recognising and responding to attachment-related issues; or that a particular adopted child needs tailored support.  Alternatively, a school may decide that a whole class intervention is appropriate resulting in other pupils that do not attract the Pupil Premium benefiting from this.

Why are children adopted from care getting a Pupil Premium worth £1900?
Adopted children will have experienced grief and loss and many of them will have had traumatic experiences in their early lives; 70% of those adopted in 2009-10 entered care due to abuse or neglect. Their needs do not change overnight and they do not stop being vulnerable just because they are in a loving home.  We therefore believe that teachers and schools have a vital role to play in helping these children emotionally, socially and educationally by providing specific support, to raise their attainment and address their wider needs.

What are the eligibility criteria?
For the 2014-15 financial year, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools and general hospital schools will attract the Pupil Premium for children adopted from care under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (which came into force on 30 December 2005), or who left care under a Special Guardianship or Residential Order.  Parents must self-declare that their child is adopted and schools must record the child as adopted on the January School Census.  This will then trigger payment of the Pupil Premium to the school.

Are adopted children at independent schools eligible?
For 2014-15 financial year, the coverage of the premium has been extended to include children adopted from care on or after 30 December 2005 and those who are subject to a Residence or Special Guardianship Order. Only maintained schools, non-maintained special schools and general hospital schools will attract the pupil premium for adopted children initially, but it is expected that the coverage of the premium will be further extended for 2015-16 to cover adopted children in alternative provision, for example, an independent school but only where the provision or place is funded by the local authority.

The pupil premium is, however, only one of a range of measures the Government is introducing as part of its Adoption Reform Programme.  The Government is, for example, making available £19.3 million through a new Adoption Support Fund to improve access to therapeutic services for adopted children and their families.  The Fund is being piloted in a number of local authority areas this year and will be rolled out across England from 2015.

Do schools have to spend the additional funding they are getting on the individual child adopted from care?
It is important to stress that Pupil Premium funding is not ring-fenced for the individual child that attracts it.  Whilst schools are held to account for the achievement of pupils who attract the Pupil Premium, schools have the flexibility to spend the additional funding as they see fit.  A school may, for example, decide to train their staff in recognising and responding to attachment-related issues; or that a particular adopted child needs tailored support.  Alternatively, a school may decide that a whole class intervention is appropriate, resulting in other pupils that do not attract the Pupil Premium benefiting from this alongside those who have been adopted from care.

How do parents self-identify – what do they need to show the school?
Parents and guardians are required to provide evidence to the school e.g. a copy of the adoption order.  Sensitive information may be concealed.