The pupil premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities. It is given to schools to close the attainment gap between them and their peers. It was first introduced in April 2011, and it is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals (FSM), at any point in the last six years. Looked after children and those of service personnel also recieve funding. The level of the premium in 2023-24 is £455 per pupil who is or has been a FSM pupil in the last six years.

 

Is my child eligible?

Free school meals in all West Sussex maintained and free schools and academies are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's 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're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

A number of pupils will also be protected against losing their current free school meals. You can find more information on GOV.UK.

If you are not eligible for benefits-related, free school meals, but your child is currently in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, they will automatically be entitled to Universal Infant Free School Meals and you need not apply. Contact your school for details.

If you are eligible for benefits-related free school meals in accordance with the above criteria, and your child is also receiving Universal Infant Free School Meals, it is important that you continue to register. This will enable your child's school to claim valuable 'pupil premium' funding. This is additional grant the school can invest in, providing extra support for your child in school.

If you think your child may qualify for pupil premium funding please click this link https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/schools-and-colleges/free-school-meals/

 

Below is this year's Pupil Premium Strategy Plan: