Fund Virtual Labs with Pupil Premium & SEN Budgets

No competitive application needed.
UK state schools can fund WhimsyLabs from budgets they already hold — Pupil Premium and the notional SEN budget — as a documented, evidence-based spending decision.

✅ Budgets You Already Hold
📊 Evidence Summaries Provided
💷 Value-for-Money Case
Get a Funding PackPupil PremiumSEN Budget

Allocate, Don't Apply

These aren't grants you win in a competition. Pupil Premium and the notional SEN budget are discretionary funds every English state school already holds. You decide how to spend them — so funding WhimsyLabs is simply a documented, evidence-based spending decision, not an external bid.

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Budgets You Already Hold

Pupil Premium and the notional SEN budget sit in your school's own funding — no awarding body, no deadline, no competition.

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Allowable Spend

DfE guidance explicitly allows software that supports high-quality teaching and assistive technology for SEND pupils.

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We Document It

WhimsyLabs supplies evidence summaries and a value-for-money case so your spending decision is properly justified.

Funding WhimsyLabs from Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is additional funding to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in England. The DfE's official "menu of approaches" explicitly allows spending on "technology to support high-quality teaching — for example, software to support diagnostic assessment." Instructional science software like WhimsyLabs is an allowable Pupil Premium spend when it benefits disadvantaged pupils.

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2026–27 Per-Pupil Rates (England)

  • £1,550 — FSM Ever-6, primary
  • £1,100 — FSM Ever-6, secondary
  • £2,690 — Looked-after / previously-looked-after children
  • £360 — Service Pupil Premium

💡 Note: These rates are set per eligible pupil — your total Pupil Premium allocation depends on how many pupils qualify at your school.

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Why WhimsyLabs Qualifies

  • Supports high-quality teaching: curriculum-aligned virtual chemistry, biology and physics labs
  • Benefits disadvantaged pupils: hands-on practical science without the cost barrier of physical kit
  • Runs on what schools have: browser-based and Chromebook-friendly — no expensive hardware needed
  • AI tutor support: targeted, individualised help that closes gaps for pupils who need it most
  • Evidence-ready: we provide research summaries to underpin your Pupil Premium strategy statement

Funding WhimsyLabs from the Notional SEN Budget

Every mainstream school holds a notional SEN budget to support pupils with special educational needs. DfE guidance states this budget "can help fund equipment, such as computers and assistive technology." WhimsyLabs' accessible, inclusive virtual labs are an allowable use of this funding for your SEND pupils. (Amounts are set by your local authority; the first ~£6,000 of additional SEN support per pupil typically comes from the school budget.)

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Built for Accessibility

Designed with SEND in mind — adjustable pacing, clear visuals, audio support and a calm, low-pressure environment that lets every pupil take part in practical science.

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Patient AI Tutor

An always-available AI tutor gives individualised, step-by-step guidance — ideal for pupils who benefit from repetition and one-to-one style support.

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Safe, Repeatable Practicals

Pupils can repeat experiments as many times as they need, with no risk and no consumable cost — removing barriers that often exclude SEND learners from the lab.

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Assistive Technology

As browser-based software accessed on existing computers and Chromebooks, WhimsyLabs fits squarely within "computers and assistive technology" allowed under the notional SEN budget.

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VR-Capable When Helpful

For pupils who engage better through immersion, the same labs are VR-capable — an inclusive option, never a requirement.

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Provision Mapping Support

We help you describe WhimsyLabs within your SEND provision so the spend is documented and defensible at review.

What WhimsyLabs Provides to Support the Decision

A spending decision needs to be justified. We give you everything you need to document the rationale and demonstrate value for money.

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Evidence Summaries

Research on virtual labs & outcomes

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Value-for-Money Case

Cost per pupil vs. physical labs

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Strategy Statement Wording

Drop-in text for your documentation

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Free Demo & Onboarding

See it before you allocate budget

Which Budget Fits Your School?

Most English state schools hold both of these budgets. Use whichever best matches the pupils you want to support:

💷 Use Pupil Premium If:

  • You have disadvantaged pupils (FSM Ever-6, looked-after, or service children)
  • You want to raise attainment in science for those pupils
  • You're updating your Pupil Premium strategy statement
  • You want software that supports high-quality teaching

♿ Use the Notional SEN Budget If:

  • You're supporting pupils with special educational needs
  • You need accessible, inclusive practical science
  • You're funding computers or assistive technology
  • You want to strengthen your SEND provision offer

Get Your School Funding Pack

Tell us a little about your school and we'll send evidence summaries, a value-for-money case, and ready-to-use wording for your Pupil Premium or SEN documentation — usually within 48 hours.

Already Funded — Just Allocate It

The money is already in your school's hands. WhimsyLabs gives you the evidence and value-for-money case to spend Pupil Premium or SEN budget on accessible, curriculum-aligned virtual science — confidently and defensibly.

Get Your Funding PackOfficial DfE Pupil Premium Guidance