Pupil Premium

The Department for Education recognises that an attainment gap exists between disadvantaged students and their peers across the country. The Pupil Premium comprises a grant provided to publicly funded schools in England to help them meet the challenges in addressing this issue.

Our Pupil Premium strategy is underpinned by the premise that quality-first teaching (alongside personalised pastoral care) benefits both disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students alike. High-impact teaching and learning will ultimately have the most significant impact on students who qualify for Pupil Premium funding. Tackling the ‘barriers to learning’ that are identified in this strategy remains crucial, but within a mindset that is pre-emptive in anticipating problems and immediately acting to mitigate them, rather than reacting once they emerge. Closing existing attainment and achievement gaps between students who qualify for the Pupil Premium and those who do not (and keeping them closed) lies at the heart of our resolve to continually provide high quality education for all.

The Criteria

A student will appear on our Pupil Premium register if they meet any of the criteria because it is possible that children in any of these categories might have experienced a barrier to their learning.

• Currently in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM);
• Having received Free School Meals some time in the past 6 years, even if not receiving FSM right now (known as the Ever 6 FSM measure);
• Students from service families;
• Children who are 'looked after' (CLA);
• Children who have been adopted from care.

Does my child qualify for free lunch?

If you would like to know more about applying for Free School Meals support, click here.

Once agreed by East Sussex Council, children will get free school meals if they meet the criteria and are in school both before and after lunchtime.

Please note that checks are completed using the Department for Education Eligibility Checking System (ECS). Once a parent/guardian has been determined to be entitled the individual child will remain as entitled under Government Universal Credit transitional protections until the end of their phase of education (i.e. Primary or Secondary) during, and after, the transitional period of 1st April 2018 to 31st of March 2023. Therefore it is not necessary to reapply. Free School Meals eligibility applies to the individual child and not the family or extended family. This means that younger children will not become entitled to Free School Meals simply because their older sibling is in receipt of transitional protections.

If you would like to know more about applying for Free School Meals support, click here.

Pupil Premium Strategy Statement

Our Personalised Provision

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