Pupil Premium

The Pupil Premium is funding provided to schools that is additional funding from the government to help them improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. It is allocated according to the number of pupils on-roll who are eligible for free school meals (FSM), a smaller amount allocated according to the number of children of service families, and an allocation for each pupil who has been ‘Looked After’ (in care) for 6 months or more. In 2012, funding was extended to include pupils who have been eligible for free school meals within the past 6 years.

The Government states that effective use of the Pupil Premium is the best way to address the current underlying inequality in outcomes between children eligible for FSM and their peers, by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most. It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility. Schools are held accountable for how they have used the additional funding to support disadvantage pupils. This information must be published on the school website.

Are you eligible for free school meals?

For every child registered for Free School Meals, the school also receives funding which enables us to provide additional resources for pupils, for example through: extra classroom support, extra small group tuition, new equipment and materials for pupils. If you are registered for Free School Meals the additional funding could also be used to support other aspects of your child’s education and achievement eg the cost of school trips or extra-curricular activities.

Please register to make sure your child and others in their class and the school don’t miss out. Registering will not affect any other benefits you are claiming.

Please consider the following:

1. Check if you qualify. It is not just if you are unemployed, so please look at the information for free school meals in Hampshire schools here

2. Registering is really quick and easy. If you think you qualify, you can register here or contact the School Office who will help you to register.

3. Your child will be entitled to a free, healthy meal at lunchtime (saving you more than £350 a year) and extra benefits. The school will also get additional funding to support your child and others to enjoy and achieve.

4. You can decide not to take advantage of the free school meal, as long as you qualify and have registered, the school will receive the additional funding.