Pupil Premium - What is it?

Pupil Premium is funding paid by the local authority/government directly to schools. For each pupil eligible for Pupil Premium the school receives £935 per school year. So whilst we realise that not all the pupils who are eligible for Pupil Premium actually wish to have free school meals, we would be grateful if you would support the school by letting us know if your child is eligible.

What are the benefits?

There are many benefits for both the pupil and the school these include:

• Free school meals.
• Additional funding to support learning, progress and overall achievement.
• A wide variety of interventions to support engagement and learning.
• Support with learning and emotional needs through the purchase of extra resources.
• Additional targeted support for individual vulnerable pupils.
• Additional support staff.

Please note that if your child is in Reception or Years 1 and 2 then they are automatically entitled to a free school meal each day as part of the Government Universal Free School Meal initiative. However if you register your eligibility for free school meals then the school benefits from the Pupil Premium grant to support learning and your child’s entitlement to free school meals will automatically continue from Year 3.

I strongly encourage all eligible parents/carers to apply where appropriate. No one will know who has registered and it will not affect any other benefits being claimed.

Any children who are entitled to free schools meals, whether they take them up or not, means that our school is given extra funding to help support their needs.

I realise that information of this nature is very sensitive and I can assure you that all such information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

How do I know if I can am eligible for Pupil Premium?

Registering a child for school meals is really quick and easy, and will make a big difference to the child and the school.

To be eligible for Pupil Premium the family must be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seekers' Allowance
• Income-related Employment and 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 are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit, and have an annual gross income, of no more than £16,190 as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs1
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit

Under the current rules the school would receive Pupil Premium funding for any child or young person who has claimed Free School Meals in the last 6 years.

We can help!

You can register for Free School Meals on line at www.efsm.bristol.gov.uk or if you’d like help or more information please contact Michelle Johnson in the school office on 0117 9030394 who will be happy to help you.