The Pupil Premium gives schools extra funding to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils from reception to year 11. It was introduced in 2011 to provide additional school funding for those children from Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 11 classed as having deprived backgrounds, and also those who had been looked after by a local authority for more than six months. The Service Premium was also introduced for children whose parent(s) are, or have since 2011, served in the armed forces.
In the financial year, schools will receive £1,385 for pupils in Reception Year to Year 6 for each child registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years.
Schools will also receive £2,410 for each pupil identified as having left local-authority care as a result of:
- adoption
- a special guardianship order
- a child arrangements order
- a residence order
If a pupil has been registered as eligible for free school meals and has also left local-authority care for any of the reasons above, they will attract the £2,410 rate. Children who have been in local-authority care for 1 day or more also attract £2,410 of pupil premium funding.
Could my child be entitled to free school meals and therefore Pupil Premium?
It's not just a free school meal!
You can now apply directly to the local authority and do not always have to provide paper proof of benefit.
If you are eligible to claim free school meals your application will trigger additional government funding for your child’s school. This funding will be invested in your child at St. Joseph’s. We offer help with extended school opportunities as well as discounted school trips for those children eligible for a free school meal. This will in turn save you more money on top of the price of your child’s meal.
Eligibility
Children whose parents receive the following support payments are entitled to receive free school meals:
- Universal Credit – as long as they have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (£616.67 per month)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
If you are entitled to Working Tax Credit during the 4-week period immediately after your employment stops, or after you start to work less than 16 hours per week, your child would also be eligible to free school meals for this 4-week period only.
Children who receive these benefits in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.