Following school closure in March 2020, the Government announced £1 billion of funding to support children and young people to catch up. This included a one-off universal £650 million catch-up premium for the 2020 to 2021 academic year to ensure that schools have the support they need to help all pupils make up for lost teaching time.

The universal catch-up premium funding is available for all state-funded mainstream and special schools, and alternative provision.

Funding has been allocated on a per pupil basis, providing the equivalent of £80 for each pupil in years reception through to 6. 

Schools have the flexibility to spend their funding in the best way for their cohort and circumstances.

Please refer to the Pupil Premium Strategy for details of how this funding has been used.