What is Pupil Premium?
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium funding, which is additional to the main school funding, is the best way to address inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and those children who are not. Pupil Premium Funding is used to tackle disadvantage in order to reach the pupils who need it most.
Schools are currently given Pupil Premium funding for those whose families who have registered for FSM. This includes any child who has been registered for FSM at any point during the past 6 years. The children of members of the armed forces are also entitled to this funding. Schools also receive funding for each pupil who has been looked after for one day or more, has been adopted from care or has left care under a special guardianship order, a residence order or a child arrangement order.
The money is given to schools to support them in enabling all pupils to reach or exceed the nationally expected level for their age. Each school may decide how best to use the funding and they are held accountable for how it has been used to support pupils from low income families.
Often parents are concerned that there is a stigma attached to being seen as a ‘low income’ family. At Blackwater, all matters regarding free school meals and Pupil Premium are treated confidentially. The key purpose of our Pupil Premium funding is to enable all the pupils to reach their full potential. We work with our families and colleagues to make sure everyone involved with the child has high aspirations.
We recognise that barriers to achievement take a variety of forms and will do whatever it takes to support a child, both in and out of the classroom. We use our resources to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to become an empowered learner. In order to achieve this we offer our children a wide range of opportunities which are accessible for everyone.
Am I eligible?
Families must be in receipt of one of the benefits listed below to be eligible for Free School Meals / Pupil Premium (information correct as at July 2019 and taken from the Cornwall Council guidelines):
- Universal Credit with net (“take-home”) income not exceeding £7400 (£616.67 per month)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
You can apply online at www.cornwall.gov.uk/schoolmeals which can also provide you with more information, including about how the changes to legislation have affected any pupils already eligible for Free School Meals and the protection that is in place for them.
We are continuing our initiative to support families who are eligible for Pupil Premium.
We are allocating £100 credit to parents/carers who are eligible the Pupil Premium Grant per pupil.
How will the money be allocated?
We will be giving each parent / carer a personal budget of £100 per eligible pupil.
- £50 will be credited into your account at the start of Autumn term
- £25 additional credit will be added if you attend parent evening and your child’s attendance for the Autumn term is 96% (national expectation) or better.
- £25 additional credit will be added in the Spring term if the attendance is maintained at 96% or better.
What can I use the money for?
You can choose to spend the money on any item that will enhance your child’s learning opportunities in school. These include paying for: school trips and residential camps, swimming lessons, Breakfast club, After school Clubs and Busy Bees clubs and some uniform.
How do I ‘spend’ my child’s budget?
The school office holds the money for you, you will not receive any cash. We ask that you complete the request form and pass it on to the office staff for processing. They will keep you informed half termly of how much has been spent and how much is remaining.
Why is attendance so important?
Research clearly shows a link between good attendance and children achieving well at school. We want every child at Blackwater to do well and you can help by ensuring your child is in school every day.
Can I save it up and pay for a residential trip in the Summer term?
Yes, you can save it up for a major event. As a pupil premium child, your child will also receive a discount off the total cost of a residential trip. This is separate from this fund.
What happens at the end of the year if I don’t spend it?
You may carry forward a maximum of £25 to the next year assuming your child is still a pupil at Blackwater. Any additional funding will be returned to the main school pupil premium budget to be spent in different ways for the benefit of pupil premium children.
