Pupil Premium
What is Pupil Premium?
The Pupil Premium grant provides funding to schools to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. It is allocated according to the number of pupils on roll who are eligible for free school meals (FSM), to pupils from service families and for ‘looked after’ children (LAC). This funding is also for those pupils who have been eligible for FSM at any point in the last 6 years (Ever 6 FSM).
Criteria for Pupil Premium Funding
- Universal Credit, with household earned income (after tax) below £7,400 per year
- 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 (without Working Tax Credit) with annual income below £16,190
- Working Tax Credit run-on (the 4-week payment after stopping qualifying work)
Free School Meals Expansion
From the start of the academic year 2026-2027, the DFE is expanding FSM eligibility for FSM to all those who receive Universal Credit. This is called Expanded Free School Meals. Pupils who become eligible or Free School meals for the first time through the new Expanded Free School Meals category (Universal credit, but income over £7400) will not attract Pupil Premium funding.
If you think that you may qualify for Free School Meals, follow this link and apply:
- FSM link Nottinghamshire County Council
The criteria is that you receive one of the following benefits:
Use of Pupil Premium funding
Each year, the school produces a Pupil Premium Strategy which details how the money will be spent. It is really important that all parents who receive one of the benefits listed above register for free school meals as this will enable your child’s school to claim the pupil premium grant. The pupil premium is additional funding given to publicly funded schools in England to raise attainment. This additional funding can help buy new equipment and resources. This is used to support children’s learning in school, to ensure that children who are economically disadvantaged are able to achieve as well in school as all our pupils. We have a strategic approach to the use of specific Pupil Premium funding and plans are integrated into wider school support. These are monitored and evaluated regularly and in depth data analysis ensures that the correct support and strategies are identified to maximise progress. We also use the grant to provide enrichment opportunities: subsidising residential and school trips, accessing focused enrichment opportunities, paying for one term’s extra-curricular club per year, and any equipment required.
The governing body is kept regularly informed ensuring that the school is held to account for the impact of the spending.