Are you entitled to additional funding?

School is provided with additional funding from the government to provide support for pupils to ensure that they benefit from the same opportunities as all other children. This funding is called ‘Pupil Premium.’

There are three categories of children who qualify for additional funding:

*Children who are eligible for free school meals are eligible for Pupil Premium.

*Children who are Looked After or previously Looked After are eligible for Pupil Premium Plus.

*Children whose parents are in the armed forces are eligible for Service Pupil Premium.

Pupil Premium:

Children may be entitled to free school meals if their parents, carers or guardians receive:

• 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 get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

• younger than the compulsory age for starting school
• in full-time education

If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2023.

We would encourage all families who feel they may be eligible for Pupil Premium funding, or free school meals to make the school aware, as not only does it support you in the health and care of your child, but it also supports their learning in school.

For further information please ask to speak to Laura or Madeleine in the school office or visit: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/premium.

All matters regarding Free School Meals and the use of Pupil Premium funds are treated with discretion and in confidence.

Pupil Premium Plus

Are you entitled to Pupil Premium Plus?

PP+ is available to pupils from Reception to Year 1 in state funded education in England who:
* are in local authority care in England

* have been adopted from care in England or Wales

* left care under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)

*left care under a Child Arrangements Order (formerly a Residence Order)

Pupils must be attending either:

* a local authority maintained school or maintained special school

* an academy or free school

* a non-maintained special school, an independent school and other alternative provision (eg, home educated) where the place or provision is funded by the local authority

How is Pupil Premium Plus money used?

Government funding for Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) is provided to schools via the Virtual School (PP+ for previously looked after children is allocated directly to and managed by the school, not the virtual school).  The onus in on the parent, carer or guardian of the child to make the school aware of the child's status.

PP+ funding is not ring fenced for individual pupils.  The funding goes into a collective pot to be allocated in ways the school feel would benefit this group of children.  Schools are advised by the Virtual School on how to make best use of the grant.

Service Pupil Premium

Service Pupil Premium is extra funding for schools to support pupils' development but not for attainment. It is to support children with parents serving in the regular armed forces. They are eligible as long as they have been registered as a 'service child' at any point since 2011.

It is parental responsibility to make school aware of their child's eligibility for this funding.