The Pupil Premium
Pupil Premium funding, which is additional to the main school funding, is allocated to schools to address inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and those children who are not.
Who is entitled to Pupil Premium Funding?
Schools currently receive Pupil Premium funding of £1,480 per pupil per year for those whose families who have registered for FSM or who have been registered for FSM at any point during the past 6 years. In addition, schools receive £2,570 for Looked After Children (LAC) and ‘post-LAC’ (e.g. Adopted From Care), although some of this may be centrally retained by Local Authority Virtual Schools. The children of members of the armed forces also receive ‘Service Pupil Premium’ of £340 per year.
How is the funding used?
The key purpose of the Pupil Premium funding is to enable all pupils to reach their full potential. Each school may decide how best to use the funding to enable all its pupils to reach age related expectations and are held accountable for how it has been used to support pupils from these families.
We recognise that barriers to achievement take a variety of forms and will do whatever it takes to support a child, both in and out of the classroom. We use all our resources to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to become an empowered learner. In order to achieve this we offer our children a wide range of opportunities and we always make sure these are accessible for everyone. We work with our families and colleagues to make sure that everyone has high aspirations for all pupils. We ensure pupil premium children are well represented and have a voice on our School Council and other ‘squads’ (there are many of these – Anti-Stigma, Mini-Leaders, Buddy, Worship, Environment and Charity).
Eligible pupils are always supported using this funding but the school may also target support for other children who are vulnerable and in need of additional support for a variety of reasons and wherever possible try to maximise the impact of this funding. Some of the funding is used to improve the quality of education for all pupils, and the way that we do this is outlined on the link to our Pupil Premium Strategy document below.
How can I find out if my child is entitled to the Pupil Premium funding?
The process for applying is straightforward and confidential. You can check online using a ‘Free School Meals / Pupil Premium Service’ at www.fsm.lgfl.net. After entering essential details into the web site, the online application process links to the Department for Education system for checking eligibility and gives an immediate ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response, and will notify our school. As soon as you are registered, the school will provide your child with a hot dinner and you won’t have to pay.
Alternatively, you can speak to a member of the office staff, who will be able to assist you through this process, or collect a form from them. All enquires will be treated in confidence. Further information can be found on the link to the Derbyshire Free School Meals website below, and the application form itself can be also be downloaded.
Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2023-26
DCC Free School Meals information website
Application form for Free School Meals
Free School Meals eligibility checker