What is pupil premium?

Pupil premium is additional funding that the government gives to our school to help support specific disadvantaged pupils of any academic ability to achieve their educational potential.

The amount of pupil premium funding our school receives is decided by how many eligible pupils we have on our school roll.   

Who is eligible for pupil premium?

In order for a pupil to be eligible or deemed to be pupil premium they have to fall into one of the following categories: 

1) Ever 6 Free School Meals 

For mainstream and special schools, the PP grant for financial year 2025 to 2026 will include pupils recorded in the October 2024 school census who have had a recorded period of FSM eligibility since (and including) January 2019, as well as those first recorded as eligible in October 2024.

2) Looked-after Children (LAC) 

According to the Children Act 1989, looked-after children are defined as children who are in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English local authority.  

3) Previously Looked-after Children (PLAC) 

Previously looked-after children are children who were looked after by an English or Welsh local authority immediately before being adopted.

It also applies to children who left local authority care on a special guardianship order or child arrangements order, formerly known as a residence order.    

4) Service Children 

The Service Pupil Premium (SPP) applies to children where at least one of their parents is currently serving in the regular armed forces. This includes pupils with at least one parent who is on full commitment as part of the full-time reserve service.

It also applies to children where one of their parents died while in the armed forces and the pupil receives a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme of the War Pensions Scheme.

5) Children of families with no recourse to public funds who are eligible for free school meals (NRPF) 

There is a separate claims criteria for these pupils. 

 

How does our school spend the pupil premium fund?

Here are some examples of how we typically spend this money: 

Staffing

  • Professional development that prioritises effective and adaptive classroom delivery 
  • Teachers/support staff 
  • Child & family advocate 

Learning support

  • Tutoring/additional tuition for specific children or small groups of children 
  • Targeted support in Maths and English.
  • Classroom resources 
  • Removing barriers to learning, for example uniform, stationery and other relevant equipment 
  • Revision materials 
  • Books
  • Sports equipment   
  • Music lessons 
  • Theatre trips 
  • School trips 
  • Extra-curricular clubs 
  • Breakfast clubs 
  • Holiday clubs 

Wellbeing

  • Counselling/courses to support wellbeing and mental health 

Behaviour and attendance

  • Approaches to attendance, including staffing (attendance officer)
  • Alternate provision