Pupil Premium Funding

The Government believes that the Pupil Premium funding, which is additional to the main school funding, is the best way to address inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and those children who are not. Pupil Premium Funding is used to tackle disadvantage in order to reach the pupils who need it most.

Schools are currently given Pupil Premium funding for any pupil whose family have registered for FSM. This includes any child who has been registered for FSM at any point during the past 6 years. The children of members of the armed forces are also entitled to some funding. Schools also receive funding for any pupil who has been in care for 1 day or more; has been adopted from care or has left care under a special guardianship order, a residence order or a child arrangement order.

The money is given to schools to support them in enabling all pupils to reach or exceed the nationally expected level for their age.  Each school may decide how best to use the funding and they are held accountable for how it has been used to support pupils from low income families.

Often parents are concerned that there is a stigma attached to being seen as a ‘low income’ family. At Sandling Primary School, all matters regarding free school meals and pupil premium are treated confidentially. The key purpose of our Pupil Premium funding is to enable all our pupils to reach their full potential. We work with our families and colleagues to make sure everyone involved with the child has high aspirations. We ensure pupil premium children are well represented and have a voice on our school council and eco committees.

We recognise that barriers to achievement take a variety of forms and will do whatever it takes to support a child, both in and out of the classroom.  We use all our resources to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to become an empowered learner.  In order to achieve this we offer our children a wide range of opportunities, we always make sure these are accessible for everyone.

How to apply for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

The easiest way to apply for Free School Meals is online via the link.

Your child might be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

To apply for free school meals online, you will need the following information:

• Parents name and date of birth
• Contact details
• National Insurance Number or National Asylum Seekers Number
• Child's name and date of birth
• School your child is attending
For help or information, please speak to Mrs Arnold, our Family Liasion Officer: flo@sandling.kent.sch.uk