Pupil Premium

Principles

Pupil Premium is additional funding given to schools in an effort to raise attainment between children from low-income families and their peers, plus for children in care. Dartford Primary Academy is able to decide how to spend Pupil Premium funding to ensure that suitable additional provision is in place for individual pupils.  The academy is held to account as to how we spend the additional funding to support pupils from low income families and this is published on our website annually.

It is, therefore, really important to make sure all children who qualify are registered for free school meals even if you choose to send a packed lunch for them. Children in KS1 are all now entitled to a free school meal, however it is important that children who are eligible are still registered by parents/guardians so that the additional funding is provided.

Who is eligible for Pupil Premium?

  • Children of Armed Forces Personnel
  • Looked After Children
  • Children adopted from care or who have left care

Children can have free school meals and are eligible for Pupil Premium if they receive any of the following:

  • Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
  • Income support
  • Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Child Tax Credit provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Further details and the online application available here

School leaders are best placed to decide how to use the pupil premium to improve disadvantaged pupils’ academic attainment. There is a growing body of evidence on how schools can best help disadvantaged pupils make progress. The needs of all pupils should be assessed and the grant used to make maximum impact in the school. Pupil needs will differ and will cost differing amounts to address.

There is no expectation that schools should spend the grant only on eligible pupils, or on a per eligible pupil basis.

 

Pupil Premium Allocation