COVID has potentially reversed a decade of progress in closing the attainment gap. The evidence is clear that disadvantaged students have fallen further behind during the pandemic. This guide is designed as a practical starting point to support school leaders to develop, implement and monitor an evidence-informed approach to their Pupil Premium strategy. The guide suggests a four-step cycle for school leaders to follow when developing and sustaining their strategy: (1) Diagnose your pupils' needs; (2) Use strong evidence to support your strategy; (3) Implement your strategy; and (4) Monitor and evaluate your strategy.