Pupil Premium
Explanation, Spending Plans and Impact
What is it?
The Pupil Premium is an additional grant of money provided to schools by the government aimed at reducing the educational effects of disadvantage. In 2025-26, it is worth £1515 per eligible child. There is an additional amount called 'Pupil Premium Plus', which is targeted at children who have been adopted or who are in the care of a 'Special Guardian'. This is worth £2630 per pupil. There is a smaller amount for service children worth £350 per pupil.
Who is eligible?
The Pupil Premium is allocated to children from low-income families who are currently known to be eligible for Free School Meals in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings and children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months. It is also paid on the basis of pupils who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last 6 years.
A smaller amount is allocated to children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces. This service premium is designed to address the emotional and social well-being of these pupils.
What is it for?
As a group, national data shows that children who have been eligible for FSM at any point in time have consistently lower educational attainment than those who have never been eligible for FSM. (Note that this does not mean that all children are doing less well)
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.
In most cases the Pupil Premium is allocated to schools and is clearly identifiable. It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent, since the government’s view is that they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.
For further information please visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium
What it is worth to St Michael’s
In 2024-25, we were allocated £103,740 for our Pupil Premium Grant. For 2025-26, we have been allocated £119,085.
Spending priorities
Our priorities are to support those children who qualify in the following ways
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Intended outcome |
Success criteria |
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All reading lessons result in children making at least good or better progress. Children are given challenge and support activities to address their needs. Use of the class books to enrich reading as well as DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time intervention groups led by class teachers. |
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All lessons result in children making at least good or better progress. Children are provided with the scaffolding and lesson structure needed for them to become successful writers. |
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Teachers use purposeful, structured questioning and dialogue during curriculum activities and interaction in play in EYFS. Oracy techniques are used within writing sessions to enhance vocabulary and cohesion. Children are equipped with communication skills needed to flourish in school. Children understand what effective communication looks like. |
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All maths lessons result in children making at least good or better progress. Children are given challenge and support activities to address their needs. Over 80% of the Year 4 pupils will achieve 20 or above on their Multiplication Times Tables Check. Rainbow maths has been adapted to ensure tables are embedded and used throughout the curriculum |
Review of spending for academic year 2024-25 (to be published at the end of the academic year)
Spending Plans 2025-28
The plan is internally reviewed on an annual basis.
How are children’s needs identified?
Children’s attainment, progress and attendance are monitored regularly, and where issues arise children will be placed on appropriate support programmes. All children on FSM are eligible for support for the school camp in Y5 and Y6, and may also have support for other trips/educational visits as needed. Our aim is that all children who attract this grant will benefit in some way from the grant, though clearly some may have a greater level of support than others depending on their needs. When deciding how to best use the Pupil Premium funding, we look at the Educational Endowment Foundation’s Teaching and Learning Toolkit. This is an excellent way of researching how schools can spend money to improve the teaching and learning of children from low-income families.
The Educational Endowment Foundation currently suggests that the most effective strategies are: 1-1 Tuition; Metacognition and self-regulation; focusing on reading comprehension skills as well as building fluency; mastery learning and quality feedback to children through marking and discussing work.
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit
The school is a recognised Thrive school. The Thrive approach focuses upon supporting children to develop curious, healthy minds and supports children who may need support to re-enage with their learning due to temporary emotional issues such as bereavement.
https://www.thriveapproach.com/
From 2020-2024, the school was part of the Oracy 21 Project initiative. This focuses upon developing children's verbal communication skills to succeed in everyday life.
Voice 21 – The national oracy education charity
Applying for the Pupil Premium Grant
To find out if your child/children qualify for the Pupil Premium Grant, please visit the link below. Additionally, you can contact the school office for further support and guidance on how to apply for the Pupil Premium Grant. The school will receive additional funding if you are successful in your application for free school meals. If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in. The annual household income must be under £16,190. If you work in the armed forces, the school will also receive some additional funding to support your child.
https://life.southglos.gov.uk/kb5/southglos/directory/advice.page?id=yp4evwg7Duw