What is Pupil Premium and who is eligible for it? 

​

Pupil Premium is an allocation of funding from the Government that is given separately to the main school budget.  The government provide this money to help school address the current national underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers. The funding is to ensure that provision is in place for those disadvantaged children who need it most. 

 

The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM’). There is also an allocation for children who are “Looked After”, adopted or children of 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. 

​

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 

  

You can claim free school meals for a child who lives with you and who you are responsible for. 

​

Your claim will be automatically processed if you receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support and get any of the qualifying benefits. 

​

Your child is eligible for Free School Meals if you get one or more of the following benefits: 

​

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods) 

• Income Support 

• Income based Jobseekers Allowance 

• Income related Employment Support Allowance 

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit 

• Child Tax Credit as long as you have a yearly household income of less than £16,190 (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs) and do not get Working Tax Credit 

• Working Tax Credit run- on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit) 

​

In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals as follows; 

​

• From 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants will continue to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This will apply even if their earnings rise above the new threshold during that time 

• In addition, any child gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals during the Universal Credit rollout period 

• Once Universal Credit is fully rolled out, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer in receipt of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary) 

​

INFANT FREE SCHOOL MEALS 

​

If your child attends a state funded infant school and is in Key Stage 1 (reception, year 1 or year 2), they are entitled to ‘universal infant free school meals’ regardless of your income. Please contact your child’s school to tell them you would like to have ‘universal infant free school meals’. 

​

PARENTS OF INFANTS WHO RECEIVE THE ABOVE QUALIFYING BENEFITS 

​

You can apply for free school meals if you think you might be entitled, because your school gets up to £1,320 additional funding (Pupil Premium) to support your child’s education and can help to buy new equipment and resources. This money is only paid if you apply for free school meals and are confirmed to be entitled.

 

If your claim is successful, the school will be notified that your child can have free school meals. 

​

CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES 

​

Contact us if your circumstances change. For example, if you no longer receive benefits, move house or change school, as this may affect your right to claim. 

​

Children who get any of the above benefits in their own right (ie they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a parent or guardian) can also get the Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals. 
Children under the compulsory school age who are in full time education may also be able to get Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals. 

​

How do I apply for FSM? 

​

If you think that your income is low and you receive any of the benefits listed above, please apply using the website link: 

​

https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/xfp/form/532 

​

How the funding is spent in school? 

​

Schools can 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. We are accountable for the use we make of the Pupil premium and must demonstrate its impact – further information can be found in our policy and strategy documents available via the links below: 

​

Who can I talk to about this? 

If you would like more information about applying for free school meals or for more information about our Pupil Premium funding and spending, please contact Miss Walker.

​

For the pupil premium policy, please see our policies page.