How can Pupil Premium funding support your child?
Pupil Premium is funding which parents can apply for and if your application is successful the school receives extra funding. The funding given to schools is used to narrow the gaps in attainment between pupils.
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to free school meals. Pupil premium children will continue to receive free meals past Year 2.
Further Information on Pupil Premium
What is Pupil Premium funding and how can it help your child? – Department of Education Information about Pupil Premium Funding
Please read the reports below to see how we spend the money and what impact the spending has on improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
Our Pupil Premium Lead is Mrs Boardley
Our Pupil Premium Governor Lead is Mrs Shaw
How do we spend Pupil Premium funding and what is its impact?
Pupil Premium Eligibility
From September 2026, all pupils in households receiving Universal Credit are eligible for free school meals. Your household income doesn’t matter – as long as you receive Universal Credit, your child can claim free school meals. We strongly encourage you to check if you’re eligible under the new criteria. See below for more information on how to check if your child qualifies.
Children in reception, year 1 and year 2 will continue to receive free school meals through a different scheme. However, if they are also eligible for free school meals in line with the criteria below, we still really want you to register – see why below.
Why register for free school meals?
Pupils who are registered for free school meals will get healthy, nutritious and balanced food at school that helps make sure they’re ready to learn and thrive at school.
Registering your child for free school meals is also important because the school might get extra ‘pupil premium’ funding from the government as a result – for each eligible pupil, the school will get an extra £1,550 in pupil premium funding in 2026/27.
If you prefer your child to have packed lunches, don’t worry – they can still have this if they’re registered for free school meals.
You can see on our Pupil Premium Strategy what the grant has been spent on in the past academic year and how it will be spent this year.
Is my child eligible for free school meals and the pupil premium?
From September 2026, there will be 2 categories of free school meals:
Targeted FSM – your child may be eligible if you receive:
- Universal Credit and have an annual household income of £7,400 or less
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Your child might also qualify if you have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
Pupils receiving targeted FSM:
- Can receive free school meals
- Will attract pupil premium funding for the school
- May be eligible for other support, such as the Holiday Activities and Food programme.
Expanded FSM – your child is eligible if you receive:
- Universal Credit and have an annual household income of over £7,400
- Can receive free school meals
- Will not attract pupil premium funding for the school, nor be eligible for other support that’s based on targeted FSM
How do I register?
Find out if you are eligible for free school meals by following this link: https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/your-child-at-school/meals/school-meals/free-school-meals.aspx or simply ask at the school office.
More information
If you have any questions or specific concerns, please contact the school office team.
You can also find more information at www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals.
