Welcome, Parents!

At our school we are committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. The Pupil Premium is a vital source of funding provided by the government to help us achieve this. This page explains what Pupil Premium is, who is eligible, and how it benefits our pupils.

We encourage all eligible parents to apply, as this funding directly supports a wide range of initiatives designed to enhance the learning and development of our children.

What is Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium is additional funding given to schools to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in England. It is allocated to schools based on the number of pupils who:

• Are currently eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) or have been eligible in the past 6 years (known as Ever 6 FSM).
• Are Looked After Children (LAC) or have been adopted from care.
• Have a parent serving in the armed forces (Service Premium).

This funding is not attached to individual children, but rather allocated to the school to spend on initiatives that will best support the progress and attainment of these groups of pupils.

How Does Pupil Premium Help Our Children?

At our school we strategically use our Pupil Premium funding to provide a range of targeted support and enrichment activities. This may include:

• Academic Support: Small group interventions,  training for staff to ensure quality first teaching.
• Curriculum Enrichment: Funding for educational visits (including our Year 4 residential)  workshops, and resources that broaden experiences and deepen learning.
• Pastoral Care: Support for emotional well-being, social skills development, and access to ELSA support if needed.
• Resources & Equipment: Providing essential learning materials, books, or access to technology to ensure all children have the tools they need.
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Subsidising participation in clubs, sports, or music lessons to develop talents and interests.

Our aim is to diminish any differences in attainment between pupils and ensure all children make excellent progress and thrive.

Who is Eligible?

Your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium funding if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of 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 (if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who have been in local authority care for 1 day or more, or who have been adopted from care, or left care under a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order, are also eligible.

A Service Premium is also available for children of parents serving in the armed forces.

How to Apply / Register

Even if your child already receives universal free school meals (for all Key Stage 1 pupils), registering for Free School Meals (FSM) if you are eligible is crucial. This registration automatically triggers the Pupil Premium funding for our school.

To check eligibility and apply:

It’s really easy and quick to apply – an online application can be made via the website at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmealsapplication. You’ll need to have your date of birth and national insurance number or national asylum support service number, along with your address and the children’s details with you when you apply – you can apply for several children at a time on one application even if they are all at different schools. Staffordshire County Council will check your information and give you an immediate answer and the chance to print a confirmation.

It's quick, confidential, and makes a real difference to our school and your child's learning!