What is Pupil Premium?
Pupil Premium was introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2011, as additional funding for pupils from low-income families, Looked After Children and those from Armed Forces families. This is because the DfE have recognised that good education is the key to improving young people’s life chances.
The Pupil Premium uses additional resources from outside the school’s budget to address inequalities and support the learning and personal development of this group of children. The DfE have stated that schools have the right to spend this funding as they see fit based upon their knowledge of pupil needs.
How would it benefit my child?
Alongside school-wide quality teaching and resources, children in receipt of Pupil Premium funding at the Barnehurst Federation of Schools receive extra support through some of the following (based on individual needs):
- pastoral support from Mrs Evans, Family Engagement and Wellbeing Leader
- close tracking of their progress and attendance
- additional speech and language time from speech and language therapist and an out of class speech and language Teaching Assistant
- subsidised school trips
- activities for well-being, e.g. Therapeutic Play
- interventions for memory, listening, fine/gross motor skills, Maths, phonics
Does my child qualify?
As your child is attending an infant school, they are part of the Universal Free School Meals. Regardless of whether they are going to have a school lunch, it is worth registering them for Free School Meals; this is the same as applying for Pupil Premium. It will have a direct impact on the funding the school receives and will maximise the support we can provide.
Parents can register their child for Free School Meals if they are in receipt of any 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 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
If you think you qualify for this funding, please complete the follow the link below:
How to apply for free school meals | London Borough of Bexley
