What is Pupil Premium?

It is additional funding given to school so that they can adequately support and close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.  It also supports children and young people with parents in the armed forces.

The Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is not ‘ring fenced’ and schools are free to spend it as they wish but must demonstrate that the expenditure is contributing to closing performance gaps between children who experience disadvantage of some kind.  The grant is intended to benefit children who are currently in school.

Free school meals and clothing vouchers are available for your child(ren) if you receive one of the following qualifying benefits:

• Income Support (IS)
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)
• An income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) that as of April 2012 does not exceed £16,190. Note: From 1st May 2009 where you are entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four week period immediately after your employment ceases, or after you start to work less than 16 hours per week, your children are entitled to Free School Meals, this may be extended
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

If you receive working tax credits you may not be eligible for free school meals or clothing grants.

Children who receive Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.

Free schools meals are available to statutory school aged children attending full time education (full days only 9am to 3pm), excluding private nurseries and further education colleges.