Sheffield school praised as savvy spending bucks the trend

Tinsley Meadows Primary School has been crowned regional winner in the 2016 Pupil Premium Awards, which recognise the most effective use of special funding for pupils with additional needs.

As well as topping the list for Yorkshire and Humber – Tinsley Meadows was one of just 21 schools nationally to be named as a Pupil Premium Award finalist.

Rebecca Webb, executive headteacher, said: “Our children are fantastic. They come here happy to learn and are lovely to teach.

“Many are from families where there’s not much spare money and others have the added challenge of learning English when it’s not their first language.

“The whole school community is absolutely committed to doing everything it can to help its children. It’s great that the work has been recognised nationally. We will continue to build on the good work we’re doing.”

Tinsley Meadows won the award for the most effective use of the pupil premium in Yorkshire and Humber following a selection process led by a panel of education experts.

The pupil premium is worth up to £1,900 per child and can be used by schools to close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

Tinsley Meadows was selected as a winner as it has helped its pupils buck the trend and achieve well at the end of primary school.

The school introduced initiatives such as extending the school day with extra reading time from 8.30am, providing specialised language classes for children new to the English curriculum, hosting breakfast clubs to make sure children have a nutritious start to the day and running extra teaching groups for children to re-visit topics.

Coun Jackie Drayton, cabinet member for children, young people and families, congratulated the school on the accolades.

She said: “It’s fantastic that Tinsley Meadows has been recognised nationally for improving the outcomes for children in their school.

“Schools across our city work hard, going above and beyond to make sure that all children and young people achieve their full potential by providing experiences that will help them to do well in education and in life.”