Pupil Premium is allocated to schools with pupils on roll that are known to have been eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) at any time in the last six years, that are children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, or that are children of service personnel. Schools have the freedom to spend the Pupil Premium, which is additional to the underlying schools budget, in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for the most vulnerable pupils.
Families who receive the following are eligible for free school meals:
Income support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
Guarantee element of state pension credit
Universal Credit (with an annual income of less than £7,400)
Both income-based and contribution-based JSA/ESA if you receive the same amount for both. You should also qualify if you receive both but the income-based amount is greater, but not if the contribution-based amount is greater.
Families who are awarded Child Tax Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by HMRC, not in excess of £16,190 are also eligible to claim free school meals providing there is no entitlement to Working Tax Credit (unless in respect of a 4-week ‘run-on’).
