What is the Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is additional funding paid to schools by the Department of Education to help disadvantaged children achieve more in education. It is given to schools according to the number of pupils who are have been:

• registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years

• been in care for 6 months or longer

• the children of families in the Armed Forces

Our use of the Pupil Premium has three overarching principles:

1. There is no disadvantage in their experience of school life and opportunities for children who are adopted, looked after, are in receipt of free school meals or whose parents are serving in the Armed Forces.

2. Reasons for support provided remains confidential. Provision is part of a range of support offered to children for a number of reasons including those with additional needs such as English as an additional language, pupils with special educational needs or a disability and higher attaining pupils requiring provision that is additional and different.

3. Pupil premium will not be used to subsidise activities for all pupils or reduce costs generally. It is specifically for those children who are entitled (although on occasions other pupils may benefit). Pupil premium for a number of children receiving funding may be used for the individual or combined in order to achieve the best outcomes. This is dependent on individual or cohort needs.

Use of funding can include:

• A one-off uniform grant when children start school.

• Individual, paired or small group tuition with a qualified teacher to address learning and achievement gaps.

• Staff training where a child's or group of pupils' needs are unique or specific.

• Contribution towards additional adult support in class, when necessary, to enable an eligible child or children to learn ad achieve in a mainstream class.

• Support from an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant [ELSA].

• Financial support for school trips and residential visits.

• Financial support for extra-curricular activities and enrichment such as charged for clubs and music lessons.

Our spending of Pupil Premium is always targeted at securing good educational outcomes for children. We welcome the views of parents and carers in considering how this might be achieved although it is the school's ultimate responsibility to determine what the funding should be spent on.

Our Pupil Premium Reports and Information Reports

Pupil premium funding is available to both mainstream and non-mainstream schools, such as special schools and pupil referral units. Schools have the freedom to spend the Premium, which is additional to the underlying schools budget, in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for pupils in receipt of funding.

Free School Meals

Infant school meals are free anyway – do I still need to register?

Yes. As this money enables us to make significant improvements in the education we offer at Kingsmead, we strongly encourage all eligible parents to register. It provides additional funding to your child’s school to spend on resources such as one to one tutoring, music lessons, extra curricular clubs and school trips. Please see below for details.

Your child will be able to get FSM if you receive any 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)

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household earnings must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Please note: any child who becomes eligible for FSM between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2023 will remain entitled to a FSM regardless of any change in parental income until they finish the phase of education they are in (primary or secondary) as of 31 March 2023.

To qualify for the uniform grant you must make a successful claim for free school meals. Equally important, the only way the government knows who is eligible for Pupil Premium funding is through the number of students registered for free school meals. By registering your primary-aged child, you are securing an extra £1480 per year for the school to spend on their education.

Applying for free school meals:

The online Cheshire West and Chester free school meal application form is on the council website.

Children in Care and Previously Looked After Children

Mrs McHugh is the designated teacher for children in the care of the Local Authority and previously looked after children. Previously looked after children receive pupil premium of £2570 per annum. 

Children in Care are also entitled to additional funding, Pupil Premium Plus. This is held by the Cheshire West and Chester Virtual School and we apply for it for via the Virtual Head who approves all spending. 

As employees of the Local Authority, all staff employed in the school act as 'corporate parents' for children in care; the provision we make must be at least as good as we would expect for our own children. 

Provision may include not only teaching but also additional resources and equipment, opportunities to participate in clubs and extra-curricular activities. In short, what every good parent wants for their child. Outcomes and provision for children in the care of the Local Authority are overseen by the Virtual School for Cheshire West and Chester. A Personal Education Plan, PEP, is a termly document outlining support given and additional monies spent.

Service Premium

Schools receive £335 for every pupil with a parent who:

• is serving in HM forces

• has retired on a pension from the Ministry of Defence

This funding is to help with pastoral support.