What is the pupil premium grant?

The pupil premium grant is funding to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in state-funded schools in England. Schools receive funding for each of these pupils and can use the funding flexibly, in the best interests of eligible pupils. 

Who is eligible?

The following groups are eligible for pupil premium:

• pupils who are recorded as eligible for free school meals, or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years, including eligible children of families who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
• children looked after by local authorities, referred to as looked-after children
• children previously looked after by a local authority or other state care, referred to as previously looked-after children

Should parents apply for the pupil premium grant? What do parents need to do?

We already receive pupil premium funding for some pupils who are eligible, but not in all cases. If your child is eligible for free school meals but you are not currently claiming, we will not receive the funding for them. Similarly, we do not get any information about children who have been adopted from care; in order for us to claim that information, we need adoptive parents to tell us this is the case.

Your child may be entitled to free school meals and could qualify for pupil premium funding if you receive one of the following:  

• 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 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 - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

The forms and information on how to apply are available at:

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/schools-and-education/apply-for-free-school-meals

We would encourage all families who feel they may be eligible for free school meals to claim them, as not only does it support you in the health and care of your child, but it also supports their learning in school. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Benning, Deputy Headteacher. All matters regarding free school meals, and the use of pupil premium funding, are treated with discretion and in confidence.