Pupil Premium & Free School Meals

What is the pupil premium?

The pupil premium is extra funding for your child’s education. It is provided by the government and is normally claimed as part of free school meals if you or your partner are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits.

Your child’s school will receive £1300 per pupil for six years to support your child’s education including help with the cost of school trips, teaching assistant staff and after school programs (see individual schools websites).

Eligibility for the Pupil Premium from April 2012 is for any pupil who has been entitled to Free School Meals (FSM) in the last six years.

Pupil Premium

If your child is eligible to receive Pupil Premium, look at the benefits you will receive:

  • Free school meals throughout key stage 1 and 2
  • Half price school trips
  • Half price residential trips
  • Half price music lessons
  • Half price breakfast and after-school care club
  • Half price after school care club
  • Allocation of free school uniform (1 sweatshirt, 1 PE hoodie 1 PE top, 1 PE shorts)

What are the qualifying benefits?

You will be entitled to apply for free school meals and/or pupil premium for your child if you or your partner receive one or more 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)