Pupil Premium Funding and Free School Meals
Dear Parent/Carer,
Pupil premium and free school meals
If your child is eligible for ‘free school meals’ and you register them for this, we’ll receive extra funding called ‘pupil premium’. We use this extra money to improve the educational provision and resources at the school.
What is pupil premium funding?
Pupil premium funding from the government is given to schools to help pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation. It’s provided for pupils who:
- Are registered for free school meals
- Have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years
- Are, or have been, in care
- Have parents in the armed forces
At Ashington, we get an extra £1,455 for every eligible pupil who is registered for free school meals. This extra money could make a real difference to the quality of education we offer.
For example, we’ve previously used pupil premium funding for:
- Educational provision/resources
- Academic interventions
- Wellbeing and self-esteem building interventions
Is my child eligible for free school meals?
Your child might be eligible if you access:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on
- Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)
Universal infant free school meals
Currently, pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 are entitled to a free school meal thanks to a different government funding scheme known as universal infant free school meals (UIFSM). You shouldn’t confuse UIFSM with free school meals and the pupil premium.
If your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2 and is eligible for free school meals according to the criteria above, you should still register because we’ll receive the extra pupil premium funding.
Does my child have to eat the free school meals?
No. Pupils who are registered for free school meals don’t have to eat them. If you’re eligible but you want your child to have a packed lunch you should still register because the school will receive the funding which can support your child in other ways.
How do I register?
The link to the online applications system can be found at https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/schools-and-colleges/free-school-meals/
If you have any problems completing the application or would like school to complete the application on your behalf, please complete the attached registration form and return it to the school office.
More information
For more information about pupil premium go to our website, which contains details of how the pupil premium has been spent in the past academic year and how it will be spent this year.
If you have any questions or specific concerns, please contact the school office on 0903 892365
The Pupil Premium Grant is allocated to support the learning of children who are:
- Currently eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), or have received them at any time during the past 6 years
- Adopted directly from care, or have left local authority care on a Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order (previously known as a Residency Order).
- From Services Families where a parent has served at anytime during the last 6 years.
Schools are free to decide how they spend the Pupil Premium. We are, however, held accountable for how we have used the funding to support pupils from these families. We are required to publish online information about how we have used the Premium, ensuring that parents and others are made fully aware of the attainment of pupils covered by the Premium and the extra support that they receive.
Impact of the use of the Pupil Premium Grant at Ashington CE Primary School
The progress of this group of children, along with all children, is monitored and reported to the governors every term. It will be reported on the website annually.
Please click download our schools latest Pupil Premium Strategy 2024
Please click download our school latest Pupil Premium Strategy 2023
Please click download our school latest Pupil Premium Strategy 2022
Please click download for a Free School Meal Application Form