What is the difference between Universal Free school meals and the Pupil Premium Grant?
All children in infant classes (up until the end of Year 2) are automatically eligible for Free school meals. In addition to this some children are eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant. This is a means tested grant which parents/carers need to apply for. It only takes a few minutes but really benefits the school with additional funding to help all pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation.
The Grant is used to enrich and support your child’s learning journey in a variety of ways.
If your child is eligible for Pupil premium grant they will receive free school meals for the duration of the primary schooling and beyond. Other benefits include:
- Food vouchers ( currently £15 per week) during school closures and holidays
- Reduced costs for trips, school clubs and school led wrap around care
- Access to books and Computer equipment to support with home learning
- Supports additional experiences outside of the classroom, including Forest schools, subsidised music lessons
- Allows the school to employ additional social emotional support, including Play therapists, Therapeutic mentoring and ELSA trained staff
- Allows all children to access correct equipment and school uniform, including PE clothing
- The funds also support in class progress and are used to deploy teaching assistants to promote better academic, or social emotional progress, which leads to better outcomes and attendance
This video from Haringey Council explains what the PPG can offer Free School Meals Video
Your child may qualify for the Pupil Premium grant if you receive any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (as long as you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by HMRC)
- Working Tax Credit run-on
- Universal Credit
- are, or have been, in care
In order to apply it is a simple form to complete via http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/schools-learning-free-school-meals. Alternatively, download the form to complete. The admin team are happy to support you in the completion of the form if needed.
An application needs to be made for every child in the family who qualifies and we recommend that you apply as soon as each child starts with us at school, or if your financial situation changes.
The school relies on the additional grant in order to support initiatives to allow for better progress and experiences. Each year we create a Pupil premium action plan which outlines the spending plan and identifies how the impact of the funding on attendance, attitudes and outcomes.
Aloeric Pupil Premium Action Plan 2022 2023 Reviewed
Aloeric Pupil Premium Action Plan draft 23 24...pdf
Pupil Premium Policy 23-24.pdf
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Click here for Pickwick Academy Trust's overarching Pupil Premium statement
Aloeric's Pupil Premium statement
At Aloeric School, we believe that the highest standards can only be achieved by having the highest expectations of all learners. Some pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds require additional support; therefore, we will use all the re-sources available to help them reach their full potential, including the Pupil Premium grant (PPG).
We believe in maximising the use of the PPG by utilising a long-term strategy aligned to the School Improvement Plan. This enables us to implement a blend of short, medium and long-term interventions, and align Pupil Premium use with wider school improvements and improving readiness to learn.
Overcoming barriers to learning enabling children to reach their full potential is at the heart of our PPG use. We understand that needs and costs will differ depending on the barriers to learning being addressed. As such, we do not automatically allocate personal budgets per pupil in receipt of the PPG. Instead, we identify the barrier to be addressed and the interventions required, whether in small groups, large groups, the whole school or as individuals, and allocate a budget accordingly.
In making provision for PPG pupils, the Governors of the school recognise that not all pupils who are eligible for PPG will be socially disadvantaged or poor attainers. Governors are committed to ensuring that all pupils in receipt of the Pupil Premium grant receive an allocation of funding to further enhance their educational experience and enable them to achieve the best possible outcomes.
We are actively promoting children’s rights whilst working towards our Silver Rights Respecting School Award; this aids the children of Aloeric in understanding their rights and how to protect them. This is crucial to the development of our school as enhancing children’s understanding, social awareness and emotional wellbeing will ensure our children will become responsible citizens within school, local community and the wider world. We support the UN Convention Rights of the Child, Article 28 – that every child has the right to an education and Article 29 – that education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. Please see our Right Respecting Schools Policy for further information.
- To provide additional educational support to raise the achievement of pupils in receipt of the PPG.
- To narrow the gap between the educational achievement of these pupils and their peers.
- To address underlying inequalities, as far as possible, between pupils.
- To ensure that the PPG reaches the pupils who need it most.
- To make a significant impact on the education and lives of these pupils.
- To work in partnership with the parent/carer of pupils to collectively ensure pupils’ success.