What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the Department for Education (DfE) to improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils in schools in England.

The funding is intended to help schools raise attainment, remove barriers to learning and support pupils who may face additional challenges. Schools have flexibility in how they use the funding but must publish a strategy statement explaining how it will be spent and the impact it is having on eligible pupils.

 

Is Your Child Eligible for Pupil Premium?

Schools receive Pupil Premium funding to support pupils who are eligible for Free School Meals (TFSM), or who have been eligible at any point during the past six years. Additional funding is also available for children who are looked after by the local authority or who have previously been looked after, including children adopted from care or who have left care under certain arrangements.

Pupils whose parents serve in the regular armed forces may also attract Service Pupil Premium funding, which supports their pastoral needs.

 

Targeted Free School Meals (TFSM/Ever 6)

Pupils who are from a low-income family are eligible for Targeted Free School Meals (TFSM), or who have been eligible at any point during the previous six years.

 

Looked After Children

Children who are currently looked after by a local authority.

 

Previously Looked After Children

Children who have left local authority care through:

• Adoption
• A Special Guardianship Order
• A Child Arrangements Order

 

Service Children

Children with a parent who:

• Is serving in the regular armed forces;
• Has served in the regular armed forces during the previous six years; or
• Is in receipt of a pension from the Ministry of Defence.

If you think your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, we encourage you to apply via:https://apply.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims 

 

Pupil Premium Funding Rates 2026-27

The Department for Education has set the following funding rates for the 2026-27 financial year:



Category	Funding Rate
Free School Meals Ever 6 (Reception to Year 6)	£1,550 per eligible pupil
Looked After Children	£2,690 per eligible pupil
Previously Looked After Children	£2,690 per eligible pupil
Service Children	£360 per eligible pupil

 

Reporting Requirements

The Department for Education requires schools receiving Pupil Premium funding to publish an annual Pupil Premium Strategy Statement on their website.

The strategy statement must set out:

• The school's pupil premium allocation.
• The barriers to educational achievement faced by eligible pupils.
• How the funding will be spent.
• The evidence that has informed spending decisions.
• The intended outcomes for pupils.
• An evaluation of the impact of previous spending.

This information helps ensure transparency and accountability for how public funding is used to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

 

Pupil Premium Strategy Documents

Please use the links below to access our current Pupil Premium Strategy Statement and previous impact reports: