Background

Pupil Premium is additional funding given to schools (by the Government) so that they can support identified groups of students from low income families (Free School Meals). Pupil Premium money is used to close the attainment gap between them and their peers. Pupil Premium is allocated to children from low-income families who are currently known to be eligible for free school meals and children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months.

Am I Eligible?

You are eligible for free school meals for your child if you or your partner receives either:

• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (the "guarantee credit element").
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have a family income below £16, 190, as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs

Please note that by registering for free school meals, the school receives additional income, even if you choose for your child to bring his/her own packed lunch.

What is Pupil Premium?

The Government believes that Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (free school meals) and their wealthier peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.

It is for schools to decide how Pupil Premium, allocated to schools per free school meal pupil is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility. However, they will be held accountable for how they have used the additional funding to support pupils from low income families. New measures are included in the performance tables that will capture the achievement of those deprived pupils covered by Pupil Premium.

Pupil Premium at Radnage CE Primary School

The money is allocated to improve pupil attainment and help overcome any barriers to learning.  Nationally, the statistics show that pupils who are in receipt of free school meals do less well than their peers.  The aim of the money is to try to close the attainment gap and enhance their learning opportunities.

• At our school, pupil premium allocation is spent either by providing academic support to boost attainment or as a means by which pupils' learning or experiences in education may be enriched.
• Where pupils' attainment is good, the funding will be used to enrich their learning through:
  • Funded residential and educational visits
  • Funded extra-curricular clubs/activities and swimming
  • Other areas specific to the individuals' needs

Where pupils' attainment is below national expectation, the funding will be used to support the pupils' learning needs through eg One to One tuition, Booster Learning Groups (reading, writing, maths), resources to support learning at home, other areas specific to individuals' needs.

It is important for parents to register their child as eligible for free school meals so that the school receives their maximum Pupil Premium entitlement. Please enquire at the school office if you need assistance in registering for free school meals.