Pupil Premium
What is Pupil Premium?
The Pupil Premium was introduced by the government in April 2011 to provide additional funding for disadvantaged pupils. The funding allows schools to provide additional support to pupils who are currently entitled to, or have been entitled to Free School Meals in the last 6 years. Those children who are Looked After by the Local Authority, Adopted or Service Children (one or both parents serve in the armed forces) are also entitled.
Early Years Pupil Premium
Early Years Pupil Premium is for:
children from low income families who meet the criteria for Free School Meals,
children that have been Looked After by the Local Authority for at least one day,
have been adopted from care or have left care through special guardianship,
children subject to a child arrangement order setting out who the child is to live with (formerly a Residence Order).
Pupil Eligibility
The following groups are eligible for Pupil Premium:
- pupils who are recorded as eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years.
- children looked after (CLA) by local authorities, referred to as Looked After Children (LAC)
- children previously looked after by a local authority or other state care, referred to as Previously Looked After Children (PLAC)
How much money does Pupil Premium provide for schools.
This table shows how the Pupil Premium grant is allocated to schools and local authorities in the financial year 2023-2024, based upon per pupil rates:
|
Disadvantaged pupil |
Grant amount per pupil |
|
Pupils in year groups Reception to Year 6 recorded as Ever 6 - Free School Meals.
|
£1,455 |
|
LAC defined in the Children Act 1989 as one who is in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English Local Authority |
£2,530 |
|
Children who have ceased to be looked after by an LA in England and Wales because of adoption, a special order, a child arrangement order or a residence order |
£2,530 |
|
Service children. |
£335 |
Eligability for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium
You may qualify if you are a parent, guardian or carer and receive one of the following:
- Income Support (IS) or you are a pupil receiving the benefit in your own right
- Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; or
- Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
- The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Children who get any of the above benefits in their own right (ie they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a parent or guardian) can also get free school meals.
Check if you are able to claim Free School Meals by completing the online form here.
You can also contact the Free School Meals department (Benefits Information) directly by:
Email: Benefits@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 7021, Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm
Post: Revenues and Benefits Department, PO Box 187, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH34 9DB
If you think your child may be eligible based on your family income, please register them even if you do not wish to take up Free School Meals. The school will only receive Pupil Premium money for each registered pupil. This money will make a difference to your child's education.
How do we use the funding to support our children?
Pupil Premium Funding is provided to schools to help them improve opportunities for disadvantaged pupils.
Schools have the freedom to spend the Premium, which is additional to the underlying schools budget,
in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for the most vulnerable pupils.
The targeted and strategic use of pupil premium will support us in achieving our aims.
What are our Aims?
· We ensure that teaching and learning opportunities meet the needs of all of the pupils.
· We ensure that appropriate provision is made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups, this
includes ensuring that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and
addressed.
· In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that not all pupils who receive
free school meals will be socially disadvantaged.
· We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for
free school meals.
How do we use our money to support pupils at Lache Primary School?
The range of provision the Governors consider making for this group could includes:
· Providing small group work for pupils entitled to pupil premium funding with an experienced
teacher/teaching assistant focused on overcoming gaps in learning to help them make improved
progress and to raise their standards of achievement
· 1:1 support for pupils entitled to pupil premium funding to help them make improved progress and
to raise their standards of achievement
· Additional teaching and learning opportunities for pupils entitled to pupil premium funding
provided through mathematics and Literacy Specialist Teaching Assistants to help them make
improved progress and to raise their standards of achievement
· Providing Learning Mentor support for those pupils who need targeted support to remove barriers
to learning
· Acquiring effective materials for pupils entitled to pupil premium funding aimed at raising
standards, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics
· All our work through the pupil premium will be aimed at accelerating progress moving pupils
entitled to pupil premium funding to at least age related expectations. Initially this will be in
English and Mathematics.