Introduction
The pupil premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. The premium is allocated to schools for children of eligible school age from low-income families who are:
- Currently registered for free school meals (FSM) or have been in receipt of FSM at any time in the past 6 years (known as the Ever 6 FSM measure).
- Looked-after children and eligible pupils adopted from care or leaving local authority care under a special guardianship or residence order.
- Parents who are currently serving in the armed forces.
- Early Years Pupil Premium is also available to schools with a Nursery class to support disadvantaged three and four-year olds.
Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit, but are held accountable, and must report on how the funding has been used to support these groups of children. Schools are required to publish online information about how the Premium has been used, and what impact it has had. The Premium is received on a financial year basis but, reporting is required on an academic year basis.