Pupil Premium funding plays a vital role in helping schools across the UK close the attainment gap and improve outcomes for children facing disadvantage. When used strategically, it can have a transformational impact – not just on individual pupils, but on the quality of teaching and learning across the whole school.
One of the most effective and sustainable ways to maximise the impact of Pupil Premium funding is by investing in high-quality, curriculum-aligned primary teaching resources. These resources strengthen Quality First Teaching, support targeted intervention, remove barriers to learning, and ensure disadvantaged pupils can access the full breadth of the National Curriculum.
This guide explores how schools can make informed, evidence-led decisions about Pupil Premium spending, and why curriculum-aligned resources represent a high-impact, long-term investment in pupil progress.
Why Curriculum-Aligned Resources Are a High-Impact Use of Pupil Premium
School leaders searching for “how to spend Pupil Premium effectively” or “high-impact Pupil Premium strategies” will consistently encounter the same message: high-quality teaching has the greatest impact on pupil outcomes.
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) identifies Quality First Teaching as the single biggest driver of improvement. Curriculum-aligned teaching resources support this by ensuring consistency, clarity, and progression across subjects and year groups.
Well-chosen primary resources help schools deliver:
- Clear curriculum sequencing that builds knowledge over time
- Greater consistency across classrooms, year groups, and phases
- Strong scaffolding for disadvantaged and lower-attaining pupils
- Improved access to key concepts for all learners
- Alignment with National Curriculum objectives and assessment expectations
When Pupil Premium funding is invested in resources that directly support the taught curriculum, schools can demonstrate a clear link between spending decisions and improved learning outcomes. This is a key requirement for accountability and inspection.
Improve Quality First Teaching With Robust, High-Quality Resources
Quality First Teaching sits at the heart of effective Pupil Premium strategy. By strengthening everyday classroom practice, schools ensure that disadvantaged pupils benefit from excellent teaching before additional intervention is required.
Pupil Premium funding can be used to invest in durable, classroom-ready teaching resources that support whole-class instruction and inclusive learning. These resources enable teachers to deliver engaging lessons, explain complex concepts clearly, and adapt teaching to meet a wide range of needs.
High-impact curriculum-aligned resources include:
- Maths manipulatives linked to National Curriculum objectives, supporting concrete–pictorial–abstract progression
- Phonics and early reading resources that build strong foundations for literacy
- Visual learning aids that support conceptual understanding and reduce cognitive load
- Hands-on STEAM and problem-solving resources to deepen reasoning and enquiry skills
- Vocabulary and language development tools embedded across subjects
These resources benefit all pupils, but they are particularly powerful for disadvantaged learners, who often require more explicit instruction, modelling, and opportunities for rehearsal. By investing Pupil Premium in teaching tools that enhance lesson quality, schools raise attainment across the board while narrowing gaps.
Strengthen Targeted Intervention for Disadvantaged Pupils
While Quality First Teaching should always be the starting point, many pupils eligible for Pupil Premium will also benefit from targeted intervention to address specific gaps in learning.
Curriculum-aligned intervention resources ensure that additional support complements (rather than competes with) classroom teaching. They help schools deliver structured, evidence-informed intervention that is easier to monitor and sustain.
Effective intervention resources can support by:
- Reinforcing core skills in reading, writing, and maths
- Supporting pre-teaching so pupils can access upcoming lessons with confidence
- Providing catch-up programmes aligned to curriculum content
- Offering guided sequences that build mastery step by step
- Giving teaching assistants clear structure, reducing variability in delivery
When interventions use the same language, representations, and progression models as classroom teaching, pupils are more likely to transfer learning and make lasting progress. This alignment also makes it easier for schools to demonstrate the impact of Pupil Premium-funded intervention through assessment data.
Boost Language, Communication, and Vocabulary Development
Language development is one of the most powerful — and cost-effective — uses of Pupil Premium funding. Many disadvantaged pupils start school with lower levels of vocabulary, oral language skills, and listening comprehension, which can affect progress across every subject.
EEF evidence consistently highlights oracy and vocabulary development as high-impact strategies for improving attainment, particularly in literacy. However, language support should not be confined to English lessons alone.
Schools can use Pupil Premium funding to invest in resources that promote rich language experiences, such as:
- Oracy and speaking resources to develop confidence and articulation
- Early language and phonics materials to support early readers
- Explicit vocabulary teaching tools linked to curriculum topics
- Role-play and storytelling resources to build narrative skills
- Cross-curricular language resources that embed vocabulary in science, geography, and history
By strengthening language and communication skills, schools enable pupils to better access reading, writing, and subject-specific knowledge. This can create a positive ripple effect across the curriculum.
Support Pupils With SEND and Additional Needs
A significant proportion of pupils eligible for Pupil Premium also have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Using funding to remove barriers to learning through inclusive, accessible resources is both impactful and evidence-informed.
Curriculum-aligned SEND resources help pupils engage with the same learning objectives as their peers, while receiving the additional support they need to succeed.
High-impact Pupil Premium-funded resources for SEND include:
- Sensory and tactile resources to support focus and regulation
- Fine motor and coordination equipment to aid writing and practical tasks
- Visual timetables and prompts to support independence and understanding
- Emotional regulation tools that improve readiness to learn
- Literacy and numeracy supports adapted to individual needs
These resources do more than support individual pupils – they contribute to inclusive classroom practice, reduce barriers for learning, and promote participation for all.
Track and Evidence the Impact of Pupil Premium Spending
Accountability is a crucial part of effective Pupil Premium strategy. Schools must be able to demonstrate not only what they have spent funding on, but why those decisions were made and what impact they have had.
Curriculum-aligned teaching resources make impact easier to evaluate because they link directly to taught content and learning objectives.
Schools can evidence impact through:
- Attainment and progress data over time
- Improved engagement and participation in lessons
- Teacher and TA feedback on confidence and consistency
- Pupil voice and learner feedback
- Observations of curriculum access and independence
- Behaviour, wellbeing, and confidence indicators
Resources with clear learning intentions and progression pathways allow schools to demonstrate value for money during inspections, trust reviews, and Pupil Premium audits.
In Conclusion: Strategic Pupil Premium Spending Transforms Outcomes
When used strategically, Pupil Premium funding is a powerful tool for improving outcomes and promoting equity. By investing in high-quality, curriculum-aligned primary teaching resources, schools can create lasting change that benefits disadvantaged pupils and strengthens teaching for all.
Effective Pupil Premium spending enables schools to:
- Improve Quality First Teaching
- Deliver consistent, curriculum-aligned learning
- Strengthen targeted intervention
- Support language and vocabulary development
- Remove barriers for pupils with SEND
- Maximise value and long-term impact
With the right resources in place, schools can ensure that every child – regardless of background – has access to engaging, inclusive, and ambitious learning opportunities. Strategic investment today lays the foundation for improved outcomes tomorrow.
