Pupil Premium is additional money allocated to schools by the government to support pupils from low-income families. The aim is to narrow the disadvantage gap by addressing inequalities, raising the academic achievement and to improve the progress of this particular cohort of pupils.
The Pupil Premium funding is allocated to schools based on the number of: children who currently receive Free School Meals or have been in receipt of Free School Meals in the last 6 years, children who are Looked-After or who have left the care of the Local Authority, or children of armed service personnel.
Since the introduction of Free School Meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, these children may miss out on this additional funding. We do encourage parents to complete a form if they think they may be eligible, even if they do not need to claim a free meal.
Schools have autonomy to determine how best to use this funding. There is, however, an obligation for all schools to publish, annually, a report on how the pupil premium funding has been spent or is planned to be spent and what has been the impact on pupil premium pupils’ academic performance.
At St Richard Reynolds, our priority is to ensure all pupils, from all backgrounds, have an equal chance of success. Our Pupil Premium funding is used to target pupils with additional intervention and support according to their needs, in order to:
- improve their levels of attainment and progress in Reading, Writing and Mathematics
- close achievement and attainment gaps in relation to their peers (non pupil premium)
- improve mental health and wellbeing
- have full access to the curriculum
- access extra-curricular provision and resources
At St Richard Reynolds, we allocate the funding to support our curriculum development, the quality of teaching and intervention. Our strategic focus is driven by:
- diagnosis of our pupils’ needs,
- data analysis at school and national level,
- review of the last plan and impact and
- educational research e.g. the EEF Pupil Premium Guide.
What is the difference between Pupil Premium and Free School Meals (FSM)?
Pupil Premium Grant: The pupil premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers.
Free School Meals: this is one aspect of support available to families of lower income. Free School Meals is part of the Pupil Premium Grant
How might a child be eligible for FSM or Pupil Premium Funding?
A child may be eligible to receive the Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals if the parent receives any of the following Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
Children who get any of the above benefits in their own right (i.e. they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a parent or guardian) can also get the Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals.
Our Pupil Premium Lead is Dee Forsdick. If you think that your child may be eligible for Free School Meals or would like more information about the Pupil Premium, please contact Dee Forsdick:
Email: d.forsdick@srrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 0208 325 4630
Please refer to our Pupil Premium strategy for more information.