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St Christophers Academy

Pupil Premium

Financial Year 2023 to 2024

For the year 22/23 we have been allocated £53,835 and £5,220 Recovery premium funding.

The Secretary of State for Education lays down the following terms and conditions on which assistance is given in relation to the pupil premium grant (PPG) payable to academies (including free schools) for the financial year beginning 1 April 2023.

The pupil premium rates and detailed eligibility criteria for the financial year 2022 to 2023 are set out in the PPG technical note.

PPG is allocated to academies for 2 separate policies:

1.1 Raising the educational attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities to help them reach their potential

PPG is allocated to academies based on the number of pupils who are:

  • Recorded as eligible for free school meals or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years (FSM Ever 6). This includes eligible children of families who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).

  • Previously looked-after children (PLAC): pupils who were looked after by an English or Welsh local authority immediately before being adopted, or who left local authority care on a special guardianship order or child arrangements order (previously known as a residence order).

1.2. Providing support for children and young people with parents in the regular armed forces

This portion of PPG is referred to as service pupil premium (SPP). Funding is allocated to academies based on the number of pupils who meet the eligibility criteria – see the service pupil premium guidance for further details.

2. Permitted use of the PPG

The grant can be spent:

  • for the benefit of pupils registered at the academy that receives it

  • for the benefit of pupils registered at other academies or maintained schools

  • on community services whose provision furthers the benefit of pupils at the academy

The PPG must be spent to support eligible pupil cohorts as described in sections 2.1 to 2.4

Academies may wish to use a portion of PPG funding to support pupils who do not meet any of the PPG eligibility criteria but have other identified needs, where they deem it beneficial to do so.

2.1 Disadvantaged pupils

Academies must use PPG funding for the purpose of raising the educational attainment of PLAC, LAC and pupils who are recorded as FSM Ever 6.

In line with the 3-tiered approach in EEF’s pupil premium guide, activities must be those that:

  • support the quality of teaching, such as staff professional development

  • provide targeted academic support, such as tutoring, and

  • tackle non-academic barriers to academic success, such as attendance, behaviour and social and emotional support

To support academies to use PPG in line with the 3 tiers outlined above, DfE have published a ‘menu of approaches’, which has been informed by evidence of effective practice. Academies must use their PPG in line with this menu from the start of the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Academies are not required to allocate PPG to every approach on the menu, but any activity funded by PPG must fall under one of the approaches listed.

When diagnosing the targeted academic support needs of their disadvantaged pupils, academies should ensure they consider which pupils will benefit from tutoring, including through the National Tutoring Programme (NTP).

The menu of approaches is in the using pupil premium guidance.

Eligibility for Free School Meals

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

  • 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
  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2022.

Infant free school meals in England

Your child will be able to get free school meals if they’re in a government-funded school and in:

  • Reception class
  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Tell your local authority if you also get any of the qualifying benefits. Your child’s school can get extra funding if you do.

Pupil Premium is an important payment for schools and a good opportunity for eligible parents to get even more support for their children in schools.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about Pupil Premium funding and how it is used to benefit your child, please speak to the school office.

If you think your child may be eligible for free school meals, even if you don't want your child to eat school meals, please call into the school office.