The Pupil Premium Grant is made available to schools for pupils currently or recently in receipt of free school meals. The government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) and their peers, by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.

The Pupil Premium Grant was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM’).

Schools also receive funding for children who have been in the care of the Local Authority continuously for more than six months, and children of service personnel.

From Academic Year 2014/15 the Government have made further funding of £1900 per pupil available to schools for students who are in Reception to Year 11. This grant is called Pupil Premium Plus and is for youngsters adopted from care in England or who have left care under a Special Guardianship Order or Residence Order (under the Children Act 1989).

The funding is used in school to support your child’s education through a number of strategies. Our pupil premium at Eyres Monsell Primary School supports initiatives such as increasing attendance, improving behaviour and attitudes to learning, raising attainment and achievement and providing additional opportunities such as supporting trip and enrichment costs.

Potential barriers for eligible pupil premium pupils 

Academic barriers

• Poor basic academic skills (reading, writing, maths)
• Low oracy, speaking and listening skills
• Poor socialisation and behaviour skills affecting learning behaviours
• On entry limited concentration, focus and attention
• Limited access to home learning and IT resources

Additional Barriers 

• Low attendance
• High persistent absence
• Poor social and emotional skills
• Home learning environment
• Lower social mobility and life experiences