View our Pupil Premium Strategy 2023-2024  to find out more about our Pupil Premium Grant and how we allocate the funding.

The Impact of Pupil Premium Funding

What is Pupil Premium Funding?

The pupil premium is additional funding given to publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. Schools set out a Pupil Premium Strategy and are accountable for how they use the additional funding to support pupils from low-income families and the other target groups. 

Who is entitled to Pupil Premium Funding?

• Currently all pupils in London from Reception to Year 6 receive universal free school meals; however, schools received pupil premium funding for pupils eligible for means-tested free school meals because their parents receive certain state benefits (see below).
• Pupils known to have been eligible for free school meals on any school census in the past six years (Ever 6 FSM);
• ‘Looked-after’ children. A child is ‘looked after’ if he or she has been provided with accommodation by a local authority for a continuous period of more than 24 hours, in the circumstances set out in sections 20 and 21 of the Children Act 1989, or is placed in the care of a local authority by virtue of an order made under part IV of the Act;
• Children who were adopted from care on or after 30 December 2005, or left care under a special guardianship order or a residence order.

How do you know if your child is entitled to means-tested free school meals?

• 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 free school meals.

You can check if your child is entitled to free school meals or speak to the school office who can check on your behalf. Please make sure you can show documentary proof of any support you get, and proof of your address, showing the post code where you live.

View the Department for Education's articles and advice for children and young people.

 

 

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