What is the Pupil Premium Grant?

The Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is additional funding given to schools to support pupils who may face disadvantage and help close the achievement gap.

Who is it for?
Pupils who:

• Have received Targeted Free School Meals at any point in the last six years (see information below about changes from September 2026)
• Are looked after or adopted from care
• Are from Service families

Updates for September 2026 

From September 2026, the Government is expanding Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility so that all children from households receiving Universal Credit may be entitled to a free school meal. 

There are now two categories of Free School Meal entitlement:

1. Targeted Free School Meals
Children may be eligible for Targeted FSM if their family receives Universal Credit and has annual household earnings of £7,400 or less (or meets other qualifying criteria). Children eligible for Targeted FSM receive:

 

• Free school meals
• Pupil Premium funding for the school
• Access to other support that may be linked to FSM eligibility, such as Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes and certain school travel assistance schemes. 

2. Expanded Free School Meals
Children from households receiving Universal Credit with earnings above £7,400 may be eligible for Expanded FSM. This entitlement provides:

 

• Free school meals only

Children eligible under the Expanded FSM category do not attract Pupil Premium funding. 

Important: Even though all children from Reception – Year 2 currently receive a free school meal, families who receive Universal Credit should still apply for Free School Meals. If your child qualifies for Targeted Free School Meals, the school receives additional Pupil Premium funding worth £1,550 per year that helps support learning and enrichment opportunities.

Why should I apply if my child already receives a free school meal?

All children from Reception – Year 2 currently receive a free school meal. 

Because of this, some families understandably think they do not need to apply for Free School Meals. However, it is still very important that eligible families register.

If your child qualifies for Targeted Free School Meals, the school receives additional funding through the Pupil Premium, which is used to provide extra support, interventions, enrichment opportunities and resources. Primary schools currently receive £1,550 per eligible pupil through the Pupil Premium. 

Registering may also help your child access other forms of support including Holiday Activities. 

Even if your child already receives a free school meal every day, registering for Targeted Free School Meals helps us secure additional funding that directly benefits pupils at Burnside Primary School. 

Please apply if your household receives Universal Credit or if you think you may meet the eligibility criteria. We can help you check your entitlement and complete an application.

Check your eligibility

If you think your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, please contact the school office. We encourage all families receiving Universal Credit to check their eligibility, as entitlement rules changed from September 2026. 

How is it used?

1. Quality First Responsive Teaching

•  Staff training and professional development to improve teaching and learning for all pupils.

2. Academic Support

• Targeted help to overcome barriers to learning, such as tutoring or small group support.

 Wider Approaches

• Breakfast clubs
• Specialist clubs
• Music lessons
• Help with trip costs including residential