Introduced in 2011, the Pupil Premium is additional government funding allocated annually to schools to improve the educational attainment of disadvantaged pupils. The initiative is based on research showing that children from low‑income families often achieve lower academic outcomes than their peers.

Pupils eligible for Pupil Premium funding may face a range of barriers to learning, including underdeveloped language and communication skills, limited family support, reduced confidence, and challenges with attendance or punctuality. The purpose of the Pupil Premium is to provide targeted support to overcome these barriers and to help narrow the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates.

How is the Pupil Premium Spent?
Schools have the flexibility to decide how best to use their Pupil Premium funding, as they are best placed to identify the approaches that will have the greatest impact on eligible pupils. Evidence‑based strategies commonly include:

Academic Support

• One‑to‑one or small‑group interventions within the classroom
• Employing additional teaching assistants to support learning
• Running catch‑up sessions before or after school for pupils needing extra help in maths or literacy
• Providing additional tuition for high‑attaining pupils eligible for Pupil Premium, for example in preparation for SATs
• Funding English language support for pupils who speak another language at home

Wider Strategies

• Running breakfast clubs to improve attendance and readiness to learn
• Providing music lessons for pupils whose families may not be able to fund them
• Supporting access to educational trips and visits
• Funding additional services such as speech and language therapy
• Investing in learning resources such as laptops or tablets

Impact of the Pupil Premium
Research shows that the Pupil Premium is effective in helping to narrow the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, particularly in English and mathematics. In many cases, the benefits extend beyond eligible pupils - for example, when funding is used to employ an additional teaching assistant who supports learning across the whole class.

How to Register Your Child for Free School Meals (and Pupil Premium)

If you are claim the following benefits, your child may be eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant:-

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

• Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Please ask at the School Office for further details of how to claim.