The catch up premium has been designed to mitigate the effects of the unique disruption caused by coronavirus (COVID-19). Consequently, the grant is only available for the 2020 to 2021 academic year.
Schools should use this funding for specific activities to support their pupils to catch up for lost teaching over the previous months, in line with Government guidance on curriculum expectations for 2020-21. Schools have the flexibility to spend their funding in the best way for their cohort and circumstances.
As with all Government funding, school leaders must be able to account for how this money is being used to achieve the central goal of schools getting back on track and teaching a normal curriculum as quickly as possible.
Given their role in ensuring schools spend funding appropriately and in holding schools to account for educational performance, governors and trustees should scrutinise schools’ approaches to catch-up from September, including their plans for and use of catch up funding. This should include consideration of whether schools are spending this funding in line with their catch up priorities, and ensuring appropriate transparency for parents.