The Pupil Premium is an allocation of funding, in addition to main school funding, which schools receive according to the number of children in specific groups.

Schools receive Pupil Premium funding for:

• all children who are eligible for free school meals (FSM)
• all children who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last 6 years (Ever6)
• all children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months by someone other than their immediate family.

The government awards this funding to help raise attainment for these children. National data shows that as a group nationally, children who have been eligible for FSM at any point in time have consistently lower educational attainment than those who have never been eligible for FSM.

A service Premium has also been introduced for children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces. This is designed to support the emotional and social well-being of these pupils.

In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged. We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals. We reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support pupils or groups of pupils the school has identified as being socially disadvantaged.

All schools are required to publish, on their websites, what funding they have received and how the money is being spent.