WHITLEY VILLAGE SCHOOL
Pupil Premium
INFORMATION
Pupil Premium is additional funding which is allocated to schools on the basis of the number of pupils who are eligible for free school meals (FSM)
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) is delivering an expansion to FSM eligibility to include all pupils from households in receipt of Universal Credit. There will then be 2 categories of FSM:
- Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing £7,400 income threshold
- Expanded FSM, which will apply to meals only, covering pupils who do not qualify for Targeted FSM, but who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit
Following the expansion of FSM, only pupils eligible for Targeted FSM will be part of the Ever 6 FSM cohort. This means that pupils who become eligible for FSM for the first time through the new Expanded FSM category will not attract pupil premium funding.
Pupils who were eligible for FSM before the expansion will continue to be part of the Ever 6 FSM cohort after the expansion. That includes any pupil whose household income increases after the expansion, such that they either lose FSM eligibility altogether or become eligible for FSM through Expanded FSM. Such pupils will remain part of the Ever 6 FSM cohort for 6 years.
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. The Department for Education urges schools and local authorities to encourage parents to register their child as eligible for FSM so that each school receives their maximum Pupil Premium entitlement. Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit. However they will be held accountable for how they have used the additional funding to support pupils from low-income families.
If you feel you may be eligible, use this link to apply:
Free school meals | Cheshire West and Chester Council
FUNDING 2026/27
In the 2026 to 2027 financial year, schools will receive the following funding for each child registered as eligible for free school meals:
-
£1,550 for pupils in reception year to year 6
Schools will also receive £2,690 for each pupil who has left local-authority care because of 1 of the following:
- adoption
- a special guardianship order
- a child arrangements order
- a residence order
HOW WE HAVE USED OUR PUPIL PREMIUM GRANT
- Intervention strategies to support pupils in reaching their full potential in English and Maths
- Intervention and special activities to support children's emotional well being
- Providing small group work focussed on overcoming gaps in learning support
- Pastoral and emotional support to families
- Support to access a range of learning including visits and residential trips
Our Pupil Premium Leader, Mrs N Downey, along with SLT and the Governors, will publish information annually on how the Pupil Premium Grant has been spent (see documents below) to ensure that all our children can be the best they can be.