Pupil Premium
What is Pupil Premium and who is eligible for it?
Pupil Premium (PP) is additional funding provided by the Government separately from the main school budget to improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils, accelerate their progress, and raise their overall attainment to close the national attainment gap.
Pupil Premium funding is allocated to schools based on pupils in Reception through Year 11 who fall into any of the following categories:
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Ever 6 Free School Meals (FSM): Pupils registered for benefit-related ('Targeted') Free School Meals at any point in the last six years.
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Looked-After Children (LAC): Children in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, a local authority. (Funding is managed via the local authority’s Virtual School Head).
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Previously Looked-After Children (PLAC): Children who left local authority care immediately before being adopted, or who left care under a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order (including children adopted from state care outside England and Wales).
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Service Pupil Premium (SPP): Funding allocated for children with a parent serving in the regular armed forces, registered as a service child in the last six years, or receiving a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme/War Pensions Scheme. SPP provides pastoral support to mitigate family mobility and deployment.
Important Note on Infant Free School Meals: Although all children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 receive free lunches through Universal Infant Free School Meals, this does not automatically generate Pupil Premium funding for the school. We strongly encourage eligible parents to submit a formal FSM application to ensure the school receives this vital extra funding.
What is the difference between Pupil Premium and Free School Meals (FSM)?
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Pupil Premium Grant: Funding paid directly to schools to provide targeted academic support, high-quality teaching resources, and wider educational support for eligible pupils.
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Free School Meals (FSM): A daily nutritious meal provided free of charge to your child.
Under current DfE guidelines, Free School Meals are split into two categories:
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Targeted FSM: Benefit-related meals based on qualifying income thresholds. Only Targeted FSM qualifies pupils for the Pupil Premium Grant.
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Expanded FSM: Meals provided to pupils whose households receive Universal Credit but exceed the Targeted income threshold. Expanded FSM entitlement provides meals only and does not trigger additional Pupil Premium funding.
How might a child be eligible for Targeted FSM and Pupil Premium Funding?
A child is eligible for Targeted Free School Meals and Pupil Premium if their parent or carer receives any of the following qualifying support payments:
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Universal Credit (subject to the net household income threshold set by the DfE)
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Income Support
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Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
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Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
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The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
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Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
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Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
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Households with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) meeting specific income criteria
Children receiving qualifying benefits directly in their own right, or children under compulsory school age in full-time education, may also qualify.
How do I apply for Free School Meals?
Applying is simple, quick, and confidential. If you receive any of the qualifying benefits listed above, please submit an application through your local authority portal:
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Apply via your local council: Click HERE
If you need any help completing the form or checking your eligibility, please contact our school office—our team is available to support you.
How is the funding spent in school?
In accordance with DfE guidelines, schools allocate Pupil Premium spending using the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) 3-Tiered Model to ensure funds are spent on evidence-informed approaches:
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High-Quality Teaching: Supporting professional development, recruitment, and teaching resources across the school.
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Targeted Academic Support: Delivering structured 1-to-1 or small group tuition, targeted interventions, and tailored learning materials.
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Wider Strategies: Supporting non-academic barriers such as attendance, emotional wellbeing, breakfast clubs, and access to educational visits or extracurricular activities.
Note: While Pupil Premium grant spending is targeted to accelerate progress for eligible pupils, schools may also use funding for whole-class interventions or wider support that benefits other pupils with identified needs (such as young carers or pupils with a social worker).
Who can I talk to about this?
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Application Support: Contact our school office to speak with our Family Support staff, who can assist you through the application process in complete confidence.
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Pupil Premium Lead: Contact Mrs McCutcheon, our Pupil Premium Lead, via the school office for questions about our Pupil Premium provision.
Click on the documents below for how we spend our pupil premium funds. The latest one is 2026-29.