Pupil Premium Grant

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.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR FSM?

If you think that your income is low and you receive any of the benefits listed above, please apply using the website link:

Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months and for children of service personnel, and Schools have a responsibility to ensure that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most and the aim should be to narrow the attainment gap between these children and their peers.

https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals

Pupil Premium Strategy Statement

St Thomas' Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2024-25 Department for Education

Articles and advice for children and young people.