Home » Letters Home » Pupil Premium Funding

Pupil Premium Funding

Dear Parent/Carer,

Pupil Premium Funding Pupil premium funding is given to schools by the government to help students reach their full potential. It’s provided for students who:

  • Are registered for free school meals
  • Have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years
  • Are, or have been, in care
  • Have left local authority care through adoption, a Special Guardianship Order, Residence Order of a Child Arrangements Order
  • Have parents in the armed forces

You may not have been aware that this funding is available and perhaps your circumstances may have changed, particularly relating to your child’s entitlement to free school meals.  (Eligibility criteria and further information can be found on the reverse of this letter)

We would also be grateful for parents/carers to contact us if their child is adopted, under a Special Guardianship, Residence or Child Arrangement Order after leaving local authority care.  We are mindful that this is an extremely sensitive matter and would ask that if you would like to discuss this, please contact our Safeguarding Lead.  All information will be treated in the strictest confidence however, you do not have to volunteer this information if you do not wish to.

Free School Meals

If your child is eligible for ‘free school meals’ and you register them for this, we will receive extra funding called ‘Pupil Premium’. We use this extra money to improve the educational provision and resources at the academy.

At Hans Price we get an extra £955 for every eligible pupil who is registered for free school meals. This extra money could make a real difference to the quality of education we offer.

For example, we’ve previously used pupil premium funding for:

  • Educational provision/resources
  • Academic interventions
  • Wellbeing and self-esteem building interventions
  • Counselling

Is my child eligible for free school meals?

Your child might be eligible if you are in receipt of any of these benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.
  • Universal Credit with annual take home pay/net earnings below £7,400 (which equals £616.67 per month) excluding benefits.

Does my child have to eat the free school meals?

No. Students who are registered for free school meals don’t have to eat them. If you’re eligible but you want your child to have packed lunches, you should still register because the academy will receive the funding which can support your child in other ways.

 

How do I register?

(You only need to register once and if your child is currently eligible, you do not need to re-apply).

To apply, please log on to the North Somerset Council website – https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/schools-learning/local-schools/schoolmeals/freeschoolmeals/ (where you can find more information and guidance) and click on the blue ‘Apply for Free School Meals’ box.  You will require your National Insurance number and you will need to complete a separate application for each child.  The application only takes a few minutes to complete and you will receive and instant decision.  If successful, a confirmation letter with a reference code will be issued and can be emailed to the academy [email protected] or alternatively, a paper copy can be handed in at the academy reception.  Your child will be able to receive free school meals as soon as the confirmation is received by the academy.

Alternatively, if you would like support in completing the application, please come into the academy and a member of staff will be happy to assist.

More information

For more information about pupil premium go to our website, which contains details of how the pupil premium has been spent in the past academic year and how it will be spent this year.

If you have any questions or specific concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours faithfully,

Mr T Searle

Principal