Pupil Premium
What is the Pupil Premium?
The Government introduced pupil premium funding in April 2011 and is additional to main school funding. The Government believes that it is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most. Eligibility for the Pupil Premium will remain for pupils who have been eligible FSM at any point in the last 6 years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM).
A premium is also in place for children in care, those children adopted from care - Looked After Children (LAC), as well as those whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces, or have done so at any point in the last 5 years (Ever 5 SFP; Service Family Premium).
The service premium is designed to address the emotional and social well-being of these pupils and to ensure successful continuity of education if service families move frequently. The purpose of the Pupil Premium is to help schools provide targeted support for vulnerable children – not necessarily just the pupils who qualify for FSM.
“It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium, allocated to schools per FSM pupil, is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.” (DFE website)
How much is the pupil premium funding?
- Ever 6 FSM: the funding is £1,455 per pupil.
- Service Family Premium: The funding is £335 per pupil.
- LAC/Post Lac: The funding is £2,530 per pupil.
Effective 01/04/2023
How do we use the Pupil Premium?
Free school meals at Shipton Bellinger Primary School
At Shipton Bellinger, we are able to offer all pupils a freshly cooked lunch. (There is a charge for pupils in Key Stage 2 who are not eligible for free school meals). It is very important that pupils are registered as eligible for free school meals as this will ensure your child and the school will receive additional educational funding. If you would like further information or advice, please speak to the office staff or Mrs Holloway in confidence.
Who is eligible for Free School Meals?
- Children from families in receipt of the following are eligible for FSM:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and 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
You can self-check your eligibility by going to Hampshire County Council Website - click here.