Pupil Premium Grant

Schools are allocated Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) on the basis of an amount for each pupil registered for Free School Meals (FSM) or who have been registered for FSM in the last 6 years (Ever 6). The plan for 2022-23 will be published shortly.

​Introduced in April 2011, the Pupil Premium is a Government initiative that provides additional funding to schools.  The Pupil Premium is provided in order to support these pupils in reaching their potential by accelerating their progress.

The Government has used pupils entitled to Free School Meals (NOT universal free school meals) and those who are looked after as an indicator for Pupil Premium. They have given a fixed amount of money to schools per pupil, based on the number of pupils registered for Free School Meals (and for six years after - the Ever 6), and for those who are looked after by the local authority. A premium has also been introduced for children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces. This service premium is designed to address the emotional and social well being of these pupils.
All members of staff and governors accept responsibility for those pupils recognised as 'disadvantaged’ and are committed to meeting their pastoral, social and academic needs in a caring environment. As with every child in our care, a child who is considered to be ‘disadvantaged’ is valued, respected and entitled to develop to his/her full potential, irrespective of disadvantage/need.
We believe that all children are entitled to achieve their full potential and should be given the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills relevant to adult life in a rapidly changing world. They should be encouraged to develop their independence and self-respect together with a positive approach to learning. 

It is important that parents inform the school if their child/children qualify for free school meals as they will benefit from extra funding from the Government. 

Qualifying benefits to receive free school meals

The qualifying benefits to receive free school meals for children in Year 3 and over are:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

If you think you may qualify call the Central Bedfordshire Helpline: 0300 300 8306
or visit: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/53/benefits/4/free_school_meals/3
You will need your National Insurance Number when you call.
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It is up to each school to decide on its own priorities and where the money should be spent. However, each year those children in receipt of pupil premium funding grant are monitored using a provision map. Their attainment and progress is monitored by teaching staff, the SLT and the governing body. This is co-ordinated by the headteacher. Appropriate intervention strategies are selected according to the individual needs of the child.  Our aim is to fully maximise this opportunity and make sure each eligible child has this extra funding and that it is used to make a difference to their progress.

​The school has decided that it would be best to support the child from two angles; academic support and social support. We will do this by investing the majority of the pupil premium into direct learning support such as a TA who is the Pupil Premium champion, one to one tutoring and small group tutoring, however we understand that children could also benefit from support with non-teaching activities such as help with uniform costs, school educational visits and enrichment activities. Therefore, parents may apply to  the head teacher to spend some of the funding. For example some parents would like to spend it on music lessons whilst others may prefer to use it for uniform and school shoes. Let us reassure you that all this is treated completely confidentially in school.