In April 2011, the Government introduced the pupil premium and the service premium. This gave schools £625 million of extra funding to close attainment gaps for disadvantaged pupils and to assist with the pastoral needs of children with parents in the armed forces.

From April 2012, pupil premium funding was extended to children eligible for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years. For the 2015 to 2016 financial year, funding for the pupil premium has increased to £2.545 billion. Schools receive £1,320 per pupil of primary-school age and £1,900 per pupil who has been looked after for 1 day or more; has been adopted from care or has left care under a special guardianship order; or has a residence order or a child arrangements order.

Your child's school maybe entitled to pupil premium funding if you receive one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Child Tax Credit Only (with income up to £16,190) with no element of Working Tax Credit
• National Asylum Seekers Support
• Guarantee Element of the State Pension Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
• Universal Credit (income dependant)

How does my school get the pupil premium for my child?

Infant years: reception, year 1 and year 2

All children at this age are eligible for free school meals, so you will need to apply separately for the pupil premium for your child's school.

Please be aware that a child must reside with the applicant to receive the pupil premium.

To apply, please click on the link below:

https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/help-cost-going-school/free-school-meals-and-pupil-premium