Pupil Premium

Pupil premium is a Government initiative designed to narrow the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their more economically advantaged peers. The additional funding is to ensure they make good progress and achieve the expected attainment. 

How do I know if I can apply for Pupil Premium?

From September 2026, your child may be eligible if your household is in receipt of Universal Credit.

There are several categories:

• Targeted Free School Meals — your household receives Universal Credit and your net annual earned income is no more than £7,400 (approximately £616 per month)

• Expanded Free School Meals — your household receives Universal Credit with earnings above £7,400

Both categories qualify your child’s school to receive Pupil Premium funding. To apply please click here

Children in Care or Previously in Care

• Your child is currently looked after by a local authority

• Your child has previously been in local authority or state care and has since been adopted, or is subject to a Special Guardianship Order, Child Arrangements Order, or Residence Order

Service Children

• One of your child’s parents is serving in the regular armed forces (including full-time reserve service)

• One of your child’s parents is a member of the armed forces of another nation and is stationed in England

• One of your child’s parents died whilst serving in the armed forces and your child receives a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the War Pensions Scheme

Please note:

• Eligibility is based on Universal Credit only — other legacy benefits such as Income Support, income-based JSA, and Child Tax Credit no longer qualify on their own

• To apply, you will need your National Insurance number and your child’s date of birth

• You can apply from 1 June 2026 for the 2026/27 school year onwards

• Applications are made through your local authority, usually via your child’s school

• Pupil Premium +

Pupil Premium + is additional educational funding given to schools or virtual schools for children who are ‘looked after’ or in care, plus those children previously looked-after.  PP+ funding is provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and devolved to schools and education providers via the Virtual School. However, PP+ for previously looked after children is allocated directly to and managed by the school (not the Virtual School) - and the onus is on the parent, carer or guardian of the child to make the school aware of the child’s status.

How PP+ is spent is decided by the school, and it isn’t ring fenced for individual pupils. Rather, the funding goes into a collective pot to be allocated in the ways the school feels would benefit this group of children.  This has been outlined above.

The Virtual School (a multi-agency team consisting of a virtual head teacher, assistant head, Fostering Education Liaison Officers (FELOs), Education Support Officers, Progression Advisors, Support Officers and Education Welfare Officers) provides advice and information to schools on how to make the best use of the grant.

The school plans how to spend the allocated funding each year, to maximise the progress and attainment for these pupils. The impact of these interventions are analysed at the end of each academic year in order to adapt the plan for the future. 

• Click on the Pupil Premium Statements below for more information.