What is Pupil Premium?
In 2011-12 the Government launched it's Pupil Premium funding. This money is sent to schools based on the numbers of pupils in the school who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). From 2012-13, it has been expanded to include all children who have been eligible for FSM within the last 6 years.
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is 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.
Accountability
The Government believes that head teachers and school leaders should decide how to use the Pupil Premium. The school is held accountable through:
The performance tables which show the performance of disadvantages pupils compared with their peers.
The new Ofsted inspection framework, under which inspectors focus on the attainment of pupil groups, in particular those who attract the Pupil Premium.
Transparency for parents as published online.
Funding
In most cases the Pupil Premium is paid direct to schools, allocated to them for every pupil who receives free school meals. Schools decide how to use the funding, as they are best placed to assess what additional provision their pupils need. Local authorities are responsible for looked after children and make payments to schools and academies where an eligible looked after child is on roll.
Are you eligible for Pupil Premium?
Even if your child already receives universal free school meals (Reception, Year 1 and 2) you may still be entitled to apply!
Families who receive the following are eligible for Pupil Premium, including free school meals:
- income support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- guarantee element of state pension credit
- Universal Credit (with an annual income of less than £7,400)
- Both income-based and contribution-based JSA/ESA if you receive the same amount for both. You should also qualify if you receive both but the income-based amount is greater, but not if the contribution-based amount is greater.
- Families who are awarded Child Tax Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by HMRC, not in excess of £16,190 are also eligible to claim free school meals providing there is no entitlement to Working Tax Credit (unless in respect of a 4-week ‘run-on’).
