What’s the purpose of pupil premium funding?

 

Publicly funded schools in England receive additional funding from the government, known as Pupil Premium, to help improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

At Cowbit St Mary’s, we use Pupil Premium funding to help remove barriers to learning and ensure that eligible pupils are supported to achieve well and flourish. Funding may be used for high-quality teaching and whole-school approaches, targeted academic support, or wider strategies that support pupils' attendance, wellbeing and readiness to learn.

School leaders carefully consider how the funding can have the greatest impact on eligible pupils. Governors provide appropriate challenge and oversight, including monitoring how the funding is used and evaluating its impact.

Free School Meals: changes from September 2026

From the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year, eligibility for benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) has been expanded. All children in households receiving Universal Credit are now entitled to a free school meal at eligible schools. The government has introduced two categories: Targeted FSM and Expanded FSM. 

It is important to understand that not every child receiving a free school meal attracts Pupil Premium funding.

Targeted Free School Meals

Targeted FSM applies to children whose families meet the existing means-tested criteria. This includes households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less, as well as other eligible groups covered by government guidance. 

Children eligible for Targeted FSM:

• receive a free school meal;
• are eligible for Pupil Premium funding;
• may qualify for additional benefits linked to FSM eligibility, such as the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme;
• can be included in the Ever 6 FSM measure where applicable. 

Expanded Free School Meals

Expanded FSM is a new category introduced from September 2026. It covers children living in households receiving Universal Credit who do not meet the criteria for Targeted FSM, including households whose earnings are above the £7,400 Targeted FSM threshold. 

Children eligible through Expanded FSM:

• receive a free school meal only;
• do not attract Pupil Premium funding through their Expanded FSM status;
• do not become part of the Ever 6 FSM cohort solely because of Expanded FSM eligibility. 

The government is providing schools with separate Free School Meals Expansion Grant funding to meet the additional cost of providing meals following the widening of eligibility. This is separate from Pupil Premium funding. 

Universal Infant Free School Meals

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 continue to be entitled to a free school meal under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme.

However, families receiving Universal Credit should still ensure that their eligibility for benefits-related FSM is checked, as children who meet the Targeted FSM criteria may attract Pupil Premium and other linked support for the school.

Looked-after and previously looked-after children

Pupil Premium also supports children who are, or have previously been, looked after by a local authority.

 This includes eligible children who were looked after by a local authority or in state care immediately before adoption, or who left care under a special guardianship order or child arrangements order. 

Funding for looked-after children is allocated to local authorities. The local authority determines how much funding is passed to the child's school, and the funding must be used to improve the attainment of eligible pupils in accordance with the Pupil Premium conditions of grant. 

Service Pupil Premium

The Service Pupil Premium has separate eligibility criteria and is intended primarily to provide pastoral support for children from service families.

Eligibility includes pupils who meet the government's criteria relating to a parent serving in the regular armed forces, previous service-child status within the relevant six-year period, and certain children whose parent died while serving.

Pupil Premium and academically able pupils

Pupil Premium funding is not determined by a child's academic ability. Our school considers the individual needs, barriers and potential of every eligible pupil. This includes ensuring that disadvantaged pupils who are working at or above age-related expectations receive the support and opportunities they need to achieve their full potential.

Applying for Free School Meals

The Free School Meals system changed from September 2026, so we strongly encourage families receiving Universal Credit to ensure that their child's eligibility has been checked.

Lincolnshire's guidance sent to schools explains that pupils are now recorded as either Targeted FSM or Expanded FSM, depending on their eligibility. [Fw: Inform...expansion | Outlook]

Parents and carers can find further information and apply through the Lincolnshire County Council Free School Meals website.

Further information about the national arrangements is available through the Department for Education's Free School Meals expansion grant guidance.