1 November 2024

At Scallywags Nursery Hornchurch, we are dedicated to giving every child the best start in life. This month, we’re highlighting our commitment to supporting families through the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) program. With EYPP, we receive additional funding to help close the attainment gap for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, allowing us to provide enriching opportunities, tailored experiences, and specialised support that nurture each child’s unique strengths and potential.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 (𝗘𝗬𝗣𝗣)?

The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is a government-funded initiative designed to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This funding helps us enhance the quality of our educational offerings for eligible children by providing extra resources, engaging extracurricular activities, and developmental support. The goal is to ensure every child receives a high-quality early years’ experience that prepares them for a successful transition into primary school and beyond.

𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗬𝗣𝗣

Children may qualify for EYPP if their families receive certain benefits, such as Income Support, Universal Credit (with specific income limits), or tax credits below a certain threshold. Additionally, children under local authority care, or those who have left care under special guardianship or adoption orders, may also be eligible. Families interested in EYPP can reach out to us with a National Insurance number to apply, and we’ll handle the rest, assisting every step of the way.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗬𝗣𝗣 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆𝘄𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆

Our nursery team, led by Becky McGowan and Emma Reynolds, strategically plans the use of EYPP funds to ensure maximum benefit for each eligible child. Here’s how we make it happen:

𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

• Through EYPP, we can fund a range of activities that give children the opportunity to explore, create, and grow beyond traditional classroom settings. We organise trips, outings, and on-site enrichment activities that are designed to expand each child’s horizons and provide them with exciting new experiences. These activities are not only fun but also crucial in helping children develop confidence, social skills, and a love for learning.

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀

• At Scallywags Nursery, we believe in the power of outdoor learning, and our forest school ethos plays a vital role in our EYPP-funded programs. Our forest school activities allow children to engage with nature, develop resilience, and build problem-solving skills in an outdoor setting. This hands-on, exploratory approach encourages curiosity, teamwork, and a strong connection to the natural world, promoting both physical and emotional well-being.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

• EYPP also enables us to invest in our team’s professional development. Our staff regularly participates in training sessions on effective teaching methods, emotional development, and specialised support for children with additional needs. This ongoing training ensures that our team is well-equipped to meet each child’s specific requirements and that we are always up to date with the latest early years practices. With a highly trained team, we can provide personalised support that empowers children to reach their full potential.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀

• Every child is unique, with distinct interests and developmental needs. Through EYPP funding, we can invest in targeted resources and activities that cater to each child’s preferences, from creative arts and sensory play to literacy and numeracy resources. By meeting children where they are and nurturing their individual strengths, we foster a love for learning that is meaningful and impactful.

Providing New Opportunities

• Our aim with EYPP funding is to provide children with experiences and opportunities they may not otherwise have. Whether it’s engaging in new extracurricular activities, exploring nature through forest school, or benefiting from a serene Hygge-inspired environment, we believe that these experiences are essential in developing well-rounded, resilient, and curious individuals.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

To make sure EYPP funding is used effectively, we conduct regular assessments to monitor each child’s progress. We use tools like Nursery in a Box to measure developmental milestones and hold informal conversations with parents to discuss each child’s growth. Additionally, our Parent Evenings offer a structured space for feedback, goal-setting, and collaborative planning to make sure every child benefit from our support.

Our commitment to utilising EYPP funds effectively is reinforced by our collaborative work with expert consultants, including our Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENDCo) and Speech and Language Therapists (SALT). Together, we ensure that each child’s journey with us is supported by a team of dedicated professionals who prioritise their success and happiness.

𝗘𝗬𝗣𝗣 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗳𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Our use of EYPP funding is an integral part of our commitment to providing exceptional care and education. During Ofsted inspections, our EYPP implementation is reviewed to ensure that the additional resources, training, and interventions are positively impacting children’s development. We strive to meet and exceed expectations, ensuring that every child receives the support they deserve.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻

At Scallywags Nursery Hornchurch, our approach to EYPP goes beyond funding; it’s about creating opportunities that can shape children’s lives in meaningful ways. By focusing on each child’s unique needs and potential, we are building a foundation for lifelong learning and confidence. We look forward to supporting more families through EYPP and are here to help with any questions or applications.

If you believe your child may be eligible for EYPP, please reach out to us, and together, we’ll ensure they receive the nurturing, enriching early years’ experience they deserve.

EYPP Blog written by Demi Eastment