Information

Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is additional funding which is allocated to schools on the basis of the number of pupils who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point over the last six years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM’).

The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their wealthier peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most. The Department for Education urges schools and local authorities to encourage parents to register their child as eligible for FSM so that each school receives their maximum Pupil Premium entitlement. 

Academies must use PPG funding for the purpose of raising the educational attainment of PLAC, LAC and pupils who are recorded as FSM Ever 6.

In line with the 3-tiered approach in EEF’s pupil premium guide, activities must be those that:

• support the quality of teaching, such as staff professional development

• provide targeted academic support, such as tutoring, and

• tackle non-academic barriers to academic success, such as attendance, behaviour and social and emotional support

Funding 2025/26

In 2025 to 2026, schools will receive the following funding for each child registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years:

• £1,515 for pupils in reception year to year 6
• £2630 for Looked After Children (LAC) or previously Looked After Children (PLAC)
• £350 for service children

Further guidance about funding can be accessed here.

Eligibility for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

You may qualify if you are a parent, guardian or carer and receive one of the following:

• Income Support (IS) or you are a pupil receiving the benefit in your own right
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; or
• Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit
• Children who get any of the above benefits in their own right (ie they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a parent or guardian) can also get free school meals.

You can check if you are eligible online here: 

Or get in touch with Benefits Information

• Email: Benefits@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
• Telephone: 0300 123 7021, Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm
• By post: Revenues and Benefits Department, PO Box 187, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH34 9DB

If your child does not have Free School Meals but may be eligible because of your family’s income level, please contact the office (in confidence) to register them. Even if you do not wish them to have the meals, this would mean the school could still claim Pupil Premium Funding that may be used to help your child.

Use of Pupil Premium at St Bernard’s

Through our mission and vision at St Bernard’s, we believe we can maximise the impact of our pupil premium spending to ‘close’ and ‘eradicate’ the gap for our ‘Ever 6 FSM’ and LAC or previously LAC children.

At St Bernard’s we ‘strive for excellence’ and provide a culture where:

• We believe in the unseen potential of all children
• All staff adopt a ‘solution-orientated’ approach to overcoming barriers
• All staff support children to develop ‘growth mindsets’ towards lifelong learning
• When analysing data and identifying pupils, we ensure that:
• All teaching staff and learning coaches are involved in the analysis of data and identification of pupils
• All staff are aware of who pupil premium and vulnerable children are
• All pupil premium children benefit from the funding, not just those who are under-performing

Our approach for using Pupil Premium and Recovery Premium is based on a tiered approach:

– Investing in high quality teaching

– Targeted academic support

– Wider strategies

Please open the attachment at the bottom of the page to see a breakdown of current and projected spending for 2024-2027 (3 year strategy)

A copy of our Pupil Premium Policy can be accessed below. The policy is reviewed on an annual basis.