PUPIL PREMIUM FUNDING

The Pupil Premium is funding in addition to the schools budget; it is calculated on the number of eligible pupils.

The government provides this funding because it believes there is a strong link between the financial background of families and pupil achievement.

The Pupil Premium is allocated to pupils from low-income families who are currently known to be eligible for Free School Meals in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings and pupils who have been looked after continuously for more than six months.

It is also used for pupils who have been on the Free School Meal register, but no longer qualify. Schools have the freedom to spend the Premium, which is additional to the underlying schools budget, in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for the most vulnerable pupils. Different schools receive different amounts.

The only criterion is that it impacts upon the achievement of those pupils and enables them to succeed in the same way as other children. Ofsted will check on the impact of the funding and on the progress of these pupils.

The school completes a census several times a year indicating how many pupils have free school meals. The funding is multiplied by the number of children.

If your family is eligible for Free School Meals, but your child chooses to have packed lunches, school will still receive the Pupil Premium funding.

The Pupil Premium is funding in addition to the school’s budget. Schools are free to decide how to allocate this funding to best support the raising of attainment for the most vulnerable pupils. If a child has been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point over the past six years or has been looked after for one day or more (Child Looked After) the school receives an amount of money per child (see below).

Pupils in year groups reception to year 6 as recorded as Ever 6 FSM – £1,320

Looked after children (LAC) defined in Children Act 1989 as one who is in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English local authority – £2300 (Note the Local authority take a proportion of this funding currently to run provision and provide additional support where needed.) The school has to apply to the Local Authority Virtual Head for funding for the child, it doesn't automatically come into the school budget and receives £600 per term.

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 – £2300

Pupils in year groups reception to year 11 recorded as Ever 6 service child or in receipt of child pension from the Ministry of Defence – £300

If your child no longer receives Free School Meals, pupil funding is not lost. The school continues to receive the funding for 6 years. If your child moves onto high school in that time, the high school would receive the continued funding. This is called EVER6 funding.

Data analysis demonstrates that over time, the very small numbers of pupils with Free School Meals and/or those eligible for pupil premium grant funding, make at least secure progress from their starting points.