What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is additional money allocated to schools by the government to support pupils from low-income families. The aim is to narrow the disadvantage gap by addressing inequalities and raising the academic achievement of this particular cohort of pupils.

The pupils who attract this funding are those children who have free school meals and or have done so in the last six years, are children of service families or are 'Looked after Children'.

Schools have autonomy to determine how best to use this funding. There is, however, an obligation for all schools to publish, annually, a report on how the pupil premium funding has been spent or is planned to be spent and what has been the impact on pupil premium pupils' academic performance.

At Riverside Primary School, our priority is to ensure all pupils, from all backgrounds, have an equal chance of success. Our Pupil Premium funding is used to target pupils with additional intervention and support according to their needs, in order to:

• improve their levels of attainment and progress in Reading, Writing and Mathematics 
• close achievement and attainment gaps in relation to their peers (non pupil premium)
• have full access to the curriculum 
• access extra-curricular provision 

At Riverside, we allocate the funding to support our curriculum development, the quality of teaching and intervention. Our strategic focus is driven by:

• diagnosis of our pupils' needs,
• data analysis at school and national level,
• review of the last plan and impact and
• educational research e.g. the EEF Pupil Premium Guide and Teaching and Learning Toolkit and the Sutton Trust's What makes great teaching?

Main barriers to educational achievement faced by eligible pupils 

• Narrow vocabulary, poor oracy and early language development (including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
• Poor phonological awareness and reading fluency
• Poor general knowledge and limited life experiences 
• Low ambition and aspiration 
• Mental ill health, low self esteem and emotional well-being (including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)

Pupil Premium - Are you eligible? 

Pupil Premium is an allocation of funding from the Government that is given separately to the main school budget.  The government provide this money to help school address the current national underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers. The funding is to ensure that provision is in place for those disadvantaged children who need it most.

The pupil premium 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’). There is also an allocation for children who are “Looked After”, adopted or children of service personnel.
Since the introduction of Free School Meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, these children may miss out on this additional funding. We do encourage parents to complete a form if they think they may be eligible, even if they do not need to claim a free meal.

What is the difference between Pupil Premium and Free School Meals (FSM)?

Pupil Premium Grant: The pupil premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers.
Free School Meals: this is one aspect of support available to families of lower income. Free School Meals is part of the Pupil Premium Grant

How might a child be eligible for FSM or Pupil Premium Funding?

A child may be eligible to receive the Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals if the parent receives any of the following Income Support

• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of State 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

Children who get any of the above benefits in their own right (ie they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a parent or guardian) can also get the Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals.
Children under the compulsory school age who are in full time education may also be able to get Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals.

How do I apply for FSM?

If you think that your income is low and you receive any of the benefits listed above then download the application form from our school website or collect from our school office to apply for the Pupil Premium/Free School Meals.

Click here to apply online for FSM

Senior Leader responsible for Pupil Premium: Lauren Porter (Deputy Headteacher)