Pupil Premium
Is Your Child Entitled to Pupil Premium?
The Pupil Premium is additional funding from the government, given to schools to help close the attainment gap between learners from low-income families and other disadvantaged families and their peers. For the academic year 2026-27, the DfE allocated the Pupil Premium Grant to schools and local authorities the following amounts:
- £1,100 per learner who is eligible for free school meals, or have been eligible in the past 6 years
- £2,690 for every learner who is (or has been) looked after by the local authority or other state care
- £360 for each learner who has parents serving in the armed forces in one of the last six years or in receipt of pensions under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and the War Pensions Scheme (WPS)
How Do I Know If My Child Is Entitled To Pupil Premium Funding?
To qualify for Pupil Premium under the low-income criteria, you must be receiving one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit – provided your household's net annual earned income is less than £7,400. (Note: While the September 2026 expansion grants free meals to all Universal Credit families, only households below the £7,400 threshold generate Pupil Premium funding).
- 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 State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income under £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
What is Pupil Premium funding spent on?
Schools can spend the Pupil Premium funding to help reduce the attainment gap between all learners and those who are deemed to be disadvantaged. Some examples of how the funding has been spent in previous years include:
- Employing teaching assistants
- Focused support for small groups or one to one tuition
- Subsidising uniform or educational trips
- Supporting enriched curriculum opportunities
Free school meals criteria change from September 2026
The UK government expanded free school meals (FSM) eligibility in England from September 2026. Under the new rules, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will qualify for free school meals.
If your child is eligible for free school meals (FSM), an allocation of £2.95 will automatically be added to their cashless catering account each day for them to spend in the canteen.