DfE Guidance
Schools, Headteachers and teachers will decide how to use the Pupil Premium allocation, as they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for individual pupils.
It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium, allocated to schools per FSM pupil, is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.
‘We know a good education is the key to improving young people’s life chances, to enable them to progress into adulthood with the skills and confidence for success. The Pupil Premium will provide schools with the resources with which to address inequalities in the system and raise the attainment of those pupils from low income families’.
SOURCE DFE WEBSITE
The Pupil Premium at St Nicholas
Our pupil premium money is used to provide a range of support for our children and along with quality first teaching is having a positive impact on children’s attainment progress and self-belief.
We are working hard to eliminate barriers to learning and progress. One of the schools aims is to ensure that ALL groups of pupils make good progress in order to reach age related expectations as they move through the school.
Increasing Parental Engagement has also been a focus at the school. A range of learning opportunities have been provided to help parents develop their own skills in English and Maths – to ensure they are better equipped at supporting their children at home.
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 peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.
The Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years.
Pupil eligibility and funding rates 2025 to 2026
This table shows how much pupil premium funding schools and local authorities receive for each eligible child.
| Disadvantaged pupils | Pupil premium per pupil | Funding is paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Pupils who are eligible for free school meals, or have been eligible in the past 6 years | £1,515 | The school |
| Pupils previously looked after by a local authority or other state care | £2,630 | The school |
| Children who are looked after by the local authority. | £2,630 | The Local Authority (LA) |
| Service children | Pupil premium per pupil |
|---|---|
Service pupil premium is additional funding for schools, but it is not based on disadvantage. It is for every pupil with a parent who:
|
£350 |
Overview of Pupil Premium numbers at St Nicholas CE Primary Academy
- At St Nicholas, the number of primary pupils on roll in October was 414
- The Number of Primary pupil’s eligible for Pupil Premium was 163.
- The Percentage of Primary pupil’s eligible for Pupil Premium was 39.37%
Based on information provided by the DfE:
- Pupil premium funding for 2025 -2026 is £230,280.00
Total budget for this academic year £230,280.00
Eligibility and Apply
Your eligibility will be checked and your application processed straight away. If your application is successful the school will be notified and your child should start receiving their free school meal within 24 hours. We may ask for proof of benefit after you apply.
Check your eligibility and apply now
If you apply and are eligible, even if your circumstances change, you will remain eligible for benefits-related free school meals until your child finishes their current phase of education (either Year 6 if they are in primary school or Year 11 if they are in secondary school).
Application Support
If you have difficulties completing the application form, read our guidance.
Urgent Food and Supplies
If your child is not currently eligible for free school meals or you are waiting for a benefit application to be approved and need food and supplies urgently, contact Kent Support and Assistance Service.
Healthy Start
If you have a child under 4 years old, you may be eligible for Healthy Start support to buy vegetables, fruit, milk and formula and free vitamins posted to your door. Find out more about Healthy Start.
Pupil Premium Plans and School Data
Please view the documents below for information on our Pupil Premium Strategy.
Address
Email
Telephone