What is the Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium was introduced by the Government in 2011. The pupil premium is a sum of money given to schools each year by the Government to improve the attainment of disadvantaged children. This is based on research showing that children from low-income families perform less well at school than their peers.  The pupil premium is intended to directly benefit the children who are eligible, helping to narrow the gap between them and their classmates.

 

Is my child eligible?

All children who currently qualify for free school meals based on their family

circumstances are entitled to pupil premium. This applies if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Universal credit (provided you have a net income of £7400 or less after tax)

• Income support

• Income-based jobseekers’ allowance

• Income-related employment and support allowance

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

• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit, provided that you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of £16,190 or less

 

If you are still not sure whether your child is eligible, we encourage you to apply.  It does not cost anything to apply and a decision is usually sent back to you and your child’s school quickly.

Children who are or have been in care, and children who have a parent who is or was in the armed forces, are also entitled to Pupil Premium. If either of these apply to you, please let us know immediately as this application is done via the school.

 

What if my circumstances change?

Pupils who have qualified for free school meals on the above grounds in the past, but are no longer eligible, continue to receive pupil premium for the next six years from when you first applied.  If your child qualifies for free school meals or has at any point in the past six years, it’s important that you tell us – even if they're in Reception or KS1 and receive universal school meals for infant pupils, or are in KS2 and take a packed lunch – as this could enable them to claim Pupil Premium.

 

How do I apply?

Applying is very easy and can be done online. Please follow the link which will take you to the online form: Somerset County Council Alternatively, you can contact the school for a paper copy.

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Pupil Premium Policy

​Our Pupil Premium Policy can be found here it includes funding for the past three financial years and how the funding is being spent. It also includes details of how it made a difference to the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. You may also wish to look at our strategic plan (below) which outlines our 3 year strategy on how to improve outcomes for children in receipt of pupil premium.​