Pupil Premium  and Free School Meals (FSM) Allocation Information

Pupil Premium

The Pupil Premium is allocated to schools for children of statutory school age who are eligible under the following criteria:

• Low-income families who are known to be eligible for Free school meals (FSM) in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings. From 2012-2013 this has also included pupils eligible for FSM at any point in the last six years (known as the Ever 6 FSM measure)

• Children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months

• Children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces.

Pupil Premium funding is given to schools to help pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation. We will be using this money to make a real difference to the quality of education we can provide for children by providing the following:

• In school where required, we will provide targeted intervention support, this can be 1:1 tuition, reading interventions and coaching with phonics and reading.

• Where necessary, we will provide appropriate pastoral, mental health and wellbeing support to enable pupils to access learning within and beyond the classroom

• We will target funding to ensure all pupils have access to school trips 

• Provide some funding to give opportunities for all pupils to participate in enrichment activities including after school sport clubs and music lessons.

• Free hot dinners or packed lunches provided by our caterers Love Food

• North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) will continue to provide holiday food vouchers for all eligible pupils. They have also provided vouchers to support with clothing and other school essentials at Christmas and Easter. School will also, where possible, make available good quality second hand uniform.

Free School Meals 

Who can receive Free School Meals?

From September 2026, children living in households that receive Univeral Credit may be eligible for Free School Meals. 

There are two types of eligibility:

Targeted Free School Meals

Your child may be eligible if your household:

• Receives Universal Credit and has an annual net household income of £7,400 or less.
• Receives certain other qualifying benefits.
• Has No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and meets the relevant criteria.

Children who qualify under these criteria may also be eligible for additional support, such as the Pupil Premium.

Expanded Free School Meals 

If your household receives Universal Credit but your income is above the £7,400 threshold, your child may still be eligible for Free School Meals under the new expanded criteria.

This means that more families receiving Universal Credit may now be able to receive Free School Meals.

What about children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2?

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state-funded schools continue to receive Universal Infant Free School Meals.

However, we still encourage families who receive Universal Credit or other qualifying benefits to apply for benefits-based Free School Meals, even if your child already receives a free meal at school.

This is because successful applications can help the school receive additional funding to support children and families.

How can I check if my child is eligible?

If you are claiming Income Support, Income based Job Seekers Allowance, Income related Employment & Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit, you may be eligible for Pupil Premium by claiming Free School Meals.

Registering is really quick and easy all you need to do is complete an online form and you will receive an instant decision. If you need any help with applying, please ask at the school office.

Further information:
You can find the latest government information about Free School Meals on the GOV.UK website.