Pupil Premium
Pupil Premium and Free School Meals
Pupil Premium is additional funding provided to publicly funded schools in England to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
Registering for benefits-related Free School Meals helps to ensure that eligible children receive their free meal and that the school receives any associated funding.
Free School Meals from September 2026
From the beginning of the 2026–27 academic year, all children from households receiving Universal Credit are entitled to Free School Meals, regardless of household earnings.
There are two categories:
- Targeted Free School Meals: for children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less. These pupils are also eligible for Pupil Premium and other related support.
- Expanded Free School Meals: for children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings above £7,400. These children are entitled to a free meal, but this category does not generate Pupil Premium funding.
Households receiving certain other forms of support may also qualify for Targeted Free School Meals. These include:
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- support available to eligible families with no recourse to public funds.
Eligibility must be checked and confirmed before a child can receive benefits-related Free School Meals.
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
All pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive a free school meal through Universal Infant Free School Meals.
However, families receiving Universal Credit or another qualifying form of support should still apply for benefits-related Free School Meals. This allows the correct category of eligibility to be recorded and may enable the school to receive additional Pupil Premium funding.
How much Pupil Premium funding does the school receive?
For the 2026–27 financial year, the school receives £1,550 for each eligible primary-aged pupil who is currently eligible for Targeted Free School Meals or has been eligible for Free School Meals during the previous six years.
Different rates and arrangements apply to looked-after children, previously looked-after children and children from Armed Forces families. Current DfE funding rates
How might Pupil Premium be used?
Pupil Premium funding is used according to the needs of our pupils and the priorities identified in the school’s Pupil Premium Strategy. It may contribute towards:
- high-quality teaching and staff development
- teacher-led booster sessions
- targeted academic interventions
- books and revision resources
- support with attendance, behaviour and wellbeing
- music lessons and wider enrichment opportunities
- educational visits and residential experiences.
Pupil Premium is not a personal budget for an individual child. Support is carefully planned according to identified needs and may benefit eligible pupils, other pupils with similar needs or whole classes. Therefore, not every strategy will be available to every pupil or year group.
Who attracts Pupil Premium funding?
Funding may be provided in relation to:
- pupils currently eligible for Targeted Free School Meals
- pupils who have been eligible for Free School Meals during the previous six years, known as Ever 6
- children previously looked after by a local authority or other state care, including eligible adopted children
- children currently looked after by a local authority, whose funding is managed by the Virtual School Head
- eligible children from Armed Forces families through the Service Pupil Premium.
Pupils who become eligible for a free meal only through the new Expanded FSM category do not automatically attract Pupil Premium funding.
How to apply
Parents and carers can apply through Nottinghamshire County Council:
You will usually need:
- the parent or carer’s National Insurance number or National Asylum Support Service reference number
- the parent or carer’s surname and date of birth
- the child’s full details, date of birth and school.
If you need help completing an application, please contact the school office or speak to our Parent Link Teacher, Mrs Vanessa Smith.
