What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil premium is extra money paid directly to schools for each child who is eligible for free school meals. It is used to support your child's education. Please apply for free schools meals if you are eligible so your school gets this money. It applies to pupils who are: entitled to free school meals (FSM), looked after children and service children as indicators of need. The government provides a fixed amount of money for schools per pupil based on the number of pupils registered for FSM.

This grant, which is additional to main school funding, is seen by the government as the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers, by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most. The Pupil Premium is allocated to schools and is clearly identifiable. Schools can decide how the Pupil Premium is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils, within their responsibility.

For further information about free school meals and how to apply and about universal infant free school meals please click this link - Free School Meals

How is the money allocated?

• Pupils who are eligible for free school meals or have been eligible in the past six years are allocated £1,345. 
• Looked After Children, defined in the Children Act of 1989 as one who is in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, and English Local Authority are allocated £2,345.
• Children who have ceased to be looked after by a local authority in England and Wales because of adoption, a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order are allocated £2345.
• Service children – Service pupil premium is additional funding for schools, but is not based on disadvantage. It is combined into pupil premium payments to make it easier for schools to manage. Schools are allocated £310 for every pupil with a parent who is serving in the armed forces or has retired on a pension from the Ministry of Defence.

Who has responsibility for how the Pupil Premium Grant is spent?

The school has overall responsibility in how the grant is spent.  They must ensure that the spending is visible through the budget and accounting systems used by the school.

The Pupil Premium Coordinator (Head of School) is the appointed member of staff to ensure that the spending impacts the children in receipt of the grant.  Schools must report on how much money the school received, how it was spent and the impact the spending had.