Pupil Premium

What is Pupil Premium funding?

The pupil premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England, designed to:

  • raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils;
  • close the gap between them and their peers.

There are four elements to pupil premium:

  • Targeted free school meal eligibility.
  • Service children.
  • Adopted from care, special guardianship order and residence order.
  • Children in care.

Any qualifying family that registers their eligibility (based on the free school meal criteria) will help raise pupil premium money for the school.

Do you qualify for free school meals (FSM)?

Benefits-related free school meals

Over half a million additional pupils will become eligible for Free School Meals under the new eligibility criteria. The change means that all households receiving Universal Credit, above the current £7,400 income cap, will qualify for this support.

There will be two levels of eligibility for free school meals: Targeted Free School Meals and Expanded Free School Meals.

Targeted Free School Meals

Families may qualify for Targeted Free School Meals if they receive:

  • Universal Credit and have an annual household income of less than £7,400.
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • The guarantee element of Pension Credit
  • Meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the separate guidance for families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

Families eligible for Targeted Free School Meals will also be able to access additional support, such as Pupil Premium and the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF).

Expanded Free School Meals

Families will qualify for Targeted Free School Meals if they receive:

  • Universal Credit and have household earnings above £7,400 per year.

Families eligible for Expanded Free School Meals with receive free school meals only.

Devon County Council has implemented an opt-out auto-award process in which they can automatically identify pupils who are eligible for Free School Meals but are not already claiming. These checks are taking place yearly so you may not need to apply.

However, you can apply as normal through the Devon Citizens Portal. This is the quickest and easiest way to apply and will result in you getting an instant decision. If you need assistance when making the online application, you can call the Education Helpline on 0345 155 1019.

Universal Infant Free School Meals (UFISM)

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 at state schools in England automatically get free school meals which is seperate from the benefits-realted free school meals that families can apply for.

However, parents and guardians are encouraged to apply for benefits-related free school meals when they enrol their child in school, as this can help their child’s school to attract additional pupil premium funding to support learning.   To access the Citizen Portal click here.

Mrs Budden is Pupil Premium Champion. She works closely with the teachers and senior leaders to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.

Please follow the link below to see the ways in which we spend our Pupil Premium Funding each year and the impact it has on our pupils’ achievements.

PP Strategy Statement December 2025

PP Strategy Statement December 2024

 

 

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