In order to level the playing field of education, the government allocates some additional funding to schools in the form of the Pupil Premium Grant. This Grant is awarded to schools to raise the attainment of ‘disadvantaged’ pupils, of all abilities, to enable them to reach their full potential.
The Pupil Premium Grant is allocated on an annual basis and the number of eligible pupils is taken from the Spring School Census Return, which usually takes place in mid-January. It is very important that eligible families make their applications before this date to ensure that entitled pupils can receive any additional support they need in school. There may be many families who are eligible but have not applied for a range of reasons. The Pupil Premium Grant could make a big difference to your child’s future, as the school can provide access to additional support (where appropriate); funding towards school visits, activities, resources and music lessons, as detailed in the school’s Pupil Premium Policy.
One of the criteria used to calculate this additional funding is the number of pupils at a school who are eligible for Free School Meals, due to their families receiving one of the qualifying income-based benefits. (This should not be confused with the free school meals now allocated to all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, which are ‘Universal Free School Meals’.) Your child does not have to have a school meal each day to qualify for the benefits of the Grant.
The school will continue to receive the Pupil Premium Grant for a child for six years, even if they are no longer entitled to ‘Free School Meals’. This means that your child could receive the extra support for six years, even if you are only eligible for ‘Free School Meals’ for a short period of time.
Families with children who have been adopted since 2005 are also eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant. Please contact the school if your child qualifies, as we do not receive this information from any source other than parents.
Children with a parent either currently serving in the armed services or who left the service since April 2011 are eligible for the Service Pupil Premium Grant. Please contact the school if this is the case for your child.
To view Castle Park School’s Pupil Premium Strategy Statement please see below.
