What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is extra government funding given to schools to support the education of disadvantaged children and those with parents in the Armed Forces. It is designed to close the attainment gap and pay for extra academic support.

Who is eligible?

Your child may qualify for Pupil Premium if they are in a state-funded school in England and fall into one of these categories:

• Free School Meals (FSM): Children who are currently eligible, or have been eligible at any point in the past 6 years.

• Looked-After Children (LAC): Children who are currently in the care of a local authority or were previously.

• Service Children: Children with at least one parent serving in the regular UK Armed Forces, those registered as a service child in the past 6 years, or those who receive a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. 

How does it work?

The funding goes directly to your child's school. The school's headteacher and governing body decide exactly how to spend the money to boost your child's learning and wellbeing. Schools are required to publish a Pupil Premium strategy detailing how they allocate this budget.

How to apply

If your child qualifies for Free School Meals based on your household income (e.g., if you claim Universal Credit), registering them is vital. Even if your child receives universal infant free school meals, registering explicitly ensures the school receives the extra Pupil Premium funding.

Apply directly through your local council to check eligibility and register your child: 

• Speak directly to the school admin office; they can often help process the FSM application for you.

• Review the full GOV.UK Pupil Premium Overview for more technical details on funding.