From the 2026/2027 academic year, the UK Government expanded Free School Meals (FSM) eligibility for families in receipt of Universal Credit into two distinct categories: Targeted FSM and Expanded FSM.

PPG Eligibility Criteria

The PPG is paid to schools for pupils recorded on the January School Census who meet the following criteria:

• Targeted Free School Meals (Targeted FSM): Pupils in households receiving Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of £7,400 or less (or other qualifying legacy benefits).
• Ever 6 FSM: Pupils who have been recorded as eligible for Targeted FSM at any time in the last six years.
• Looked After Children (LAC): Children defined in the Children Act 1989 as being in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English local authority.
• Post-LAC Children: Children who have ceased to be looked after by a local authority in England and Wales because of adoption, a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order, or a residence order.
• Service Children: A grant is also paid to the school for children from service families (Ever 6 Service Child or in receipt of a child pension from the Ministry of Defence).

Important Note on Expanded FSM:

All pupils from households in receipt of Universal Credit with earnings above £7,400 are now entitled to receive a free school meal under the Expanded FSM category. However, under DfE funding rules, Expanded FSM status provides meal eligibility only and does not attract Pupil Premium Grant funding to the school. We strongly encourage all eligible parents to apply so that we can verify whether your household qualifies for Targeted FSM funding.

Funding Rates (2025–2026 / 2026–2027 Financial Year)

Schools receive the following PPG rates for registered eligible pupils:

• Disadvantaged pupils (Ever 6 Targeted FSM): £1,515 for each primary pupil (Reception to Year 6).
• Looked After / Post-LAC children: £2,630 per eligible pupil.
• Service children: £350 for each pupil recorded as Ever 6 Service Child or in receipt of a Ministry of Defence pension.

For further information, please visit the DfE Key Facts link here.

Pupil Premium Strategy at St Paul’s C of E Primary School

At St Paul’s C of E, we have high aspirations and ambitions for all our children. We believe that no child should be left behind and that every pupil must be given the opportunity and support to reach their full potential. We strongly believe that all children have the right to an excellent education underpinned by outstanding quality teaching with high expectations.

Our school is a family where everyone feels safe, happy, and valued, and is supported to achieve their full potential. We believe that a true measure of quality in education is the extent to which excellence is achieved by all students, irrespective of disadvantage or barrier to achievement. Our aim is to eliminate variation in achievement between Pupil Premium pupils and Non-Pupil Premium pupils through a focus on high-quality teaching, informed by a rigorous cycle of reviewing and planning.

St Paul’s C of E Pupil Premium Lead: Mrs Emma Hartley (Inclusion Leader).

Strategy & Research Context

Our Pupil Premium Strategy is documented below. We developed this plan while working with Huntington Research School, utilising research from the EEF (Education Endowment Foundation). Here you will find details of how we spend the Pupil Premium funding and the impact this is having on pupils' achievement.

As per DfE guidance, our Pupil Premium Strategy follows the prescribed national template. To plan our allocation effectively, we draw upon key EEF recommendations to ensure Pupil Premium children receive the best possible education and maximise their learning opportunities to 'narrow the gap.' We also incorporate research from Addressing Educational Disadvantage in Schools and Colleges by Marc Rowland to guide staff training.

EEF Guide to the Pupil Premium  

Pupil Premium Funding - 3 Year Plan

The pupil premium plan is from September 2025 to September 2028.

We have been allocated £40,104 for the academic year 2025-26.

The next Pupil Premium light Review will be in September 2026 and is always approved by the full governing board.

Pupil Premium Strategy 2025-2028

The main focus of our Pupil Premium Strategy is to support disadvantaged pupils to achieve their full potential, including sustained academic progress for those who are already high attainers.

We explicitly consider the challenges faced by vulnerable pupils, such as those with an allocated social worker or young carers. The support and activity outlined within our strategy are designed to benefit children’s needs holistically, regardless of whether they are officially categorised as disadvantaged or not.