Pupil Premium
What is the Pupil Premium?
Introduced as a Government initiative in April 2011, the Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) represents additional funding which a school receives in order to support pupils who are considered to be disadvantaged. It is up to the school to decide how these additional monies will be spent although the school must demonstrate that the money is being used to support pupils in their education.
Why does the Government provide a Pupil Premium?
It is believed by the Government that a child’s future life chances are significantly impacted where poverty or low income is a factor. In order to address these needs, the Government considered that Pupil Premium funding should be made available to tackle disadvantage for those pupils in most need and therefore to reduce the inequalities between those children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers.
Who receives the Pupil Premium?
Pupil Premium is available for those children from reception to year 11 who are eligible for free school meals or who have been eligible for free school meals at some point within six years. It is important to note that Pupil Premium free school meals eligibility should not be confused with the Government’s universal free school meals provision for reception, year 1 and year 2 children. Additionally, further funding is available for those children who have been in care continuously for 6 months or more or for adopted children who were previously in care for 6 months or more prior to being adopted. Service children are also eligible for Service Premium.
How do I apply for the Pupil Premium?
Even if your child receives free school meals as part of the universal free school meals scheme, it does not necessarily mean that you automatically qualify for Pupil Premium and therefore an application via the relevant Local Authority’s website will need to be made. The allocation of the funding is calculated based on the financial circumstances of the applicant.
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To apply through Dorset County Council, click here to apply online.
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To apply through Somerset County Council, contact 0300 123 2224
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To apply through Devon County Council, contact 0345 155 1019 or click here to apply.
How much is the Pupil Premium worth?
For 2023/24, the amount of Pupil Premium funding for each eligible primary-aged pupil per year is £1,455 and Service Premium is calculated at £335 per year. Pupil premium allocations are based on the number of eligible pupils recorded in the school’s autumn census.
How should the school spend the Pupil Premium?
Schools should demonstrate that the Pupil Premium Grant is used to benefit disadvantaged pupils in their education so that they can achieve in line with their peers. It is up to the school to decide how the funding is spent and could include services which benefit the pupils and their families.
What obligations are the school under with regards to the Pupil Premium?
It is important to note that the Pupil Premium is not ring-fenced and therefore it is up to schools to decide how the funding will be spent. However, it must be used to improve pupils’ attainment and therefore selected approaches must be monitored in order to record impact. Further measures of appropriate use of the funding include Ofsted inspections and annual performance tables showing the progress made by children who are eligible for Pupil Premium.
How will spend of the Pupil Premium Grant be communicated to parents/carers?
Schools must report and publish annually how the money has been spent and what the impact has been regarding the achievement of pupils. A Pupil Premium Strategy for the current academic year must be displayed on the website which clearly details the following:
- The amount of the school’s Pupil Premium allocation;
- A summary of the main barriers to educational achievement faced by eligible pupils of the school;
- How the Pupil Premium allocation is to be spent to address those barriers and the reasons for that approach;
- How the school is to measure the impact and effect of its expenditure of the Pupil Premium allocation; and
- The date of the school’s next review of its Pupil Premium strategy.
Alongside the current strategy, schools must also publish a Pupil Premium strategy for the previous academic year detailing:
- How the pupil premium allocation was spent; and
- The impact of that expenditure on eligible and other pupils.
Who to contact for more information
If you feel that your child is eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant or would like to discuss the funding further, please contact the school office and ask to speak to Miss Lyons.