What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the government to state-funded schools in England to help improve the educational outcomes of children who may face disadvantages in their early years. The funding is intended to help schools close the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers by providing extra support where it is most needed. 

Pupil Premium is not a personal budget for individual pupils. Schools decide how the funding is spent so that it has the greatest possible impact for children. 

Why does our school receive Pupil Premium?

Our school receives Pupil Premium funding based on the number of children on roll who meet the government's eligibility criteria. Children may be eligible if they:

• Are currently entitled to Free School Meals, or have been entitled at any point in the last six years (known as Ever 6)
• Have been looked after by the local authority, or were previously looked after (including children who have been adopted from care)
• Have a parent serving in the UK Armed Forces 

The purpose of this funding is to support children who may face barriers to learning and to ensure that every child has the best possible start to their education. Research shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds often need additional support to help them reach their full potential.

How is Pupil Premium used in our school?

At our infant school, Pupil Premium funding is used to provide carefully planned support that meets the needs of our children. This may include:

• High‑quality teaching and staff development
• Targeted support in areas such as early reading, phonics, writing and mathematics
• Support for children’s wellbeing, confidence and emotional development
• Help to remove barriers to learning, such as attendance or access to experiences

Schools are required to plan their spending using evidence‑based approaches and to regularly review the impact of the support provided.

How are schools held accountable?

All schools must publish a Pupil Premium Strategy Statement on their website each year. This explains:

• How much Pupil Premium funding the school receives
• How the funding is being spent
• The impact of the funding on children’s learning and development

The use of Pupil Premium funding is also reviewed as part of Ofsted inspections

You can find our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement in the statutory information section of our website.

How can parents help?

If you think your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium, we strongly encourage you to apply for Free School Meals, even if your child does not wish to take them. Registering can bring important additional funding into school that supports learning and wellbeing.

Applications are confidential, and eligibility checks do not affect immigration status or other family services.

If you would like help with applying or have questions about Pupil Premium, please contact the school office.

Further information

You can find more detailed national information about Pupil Premium at:

• GOV.UK – Pupil Premium overview:
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium

• Apply for Free School Meals:
  https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

To find out if you are eligible you can follow this link and complete the information  https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/hants

For more information on Pupil Premium at Freegrounds Infant School please see the document below: