The Pupil Premium is funding provided to schools which is additional to main school funding. It is allocated according to the number of pupils on-roll who are eligible for free school meals (FSM), a smaller amount allocated according to the number of children of service families, and an allocation for each pupil who has been ‘Looked After’ (in care) for 6 months or more. The funding is extended to include pupils who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years.

If you think that you may qualify for Free School Meals, you can follow this link and apply at http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/education/school-meals/free-school-meals-and-milk

The criteria is that you receive one of the following benefits:

- income support

- income based jobseeker's allowance

- income related employment support allowance

- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

- Child Tax credit, provided you are not entitled to working tax credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exeed £16,190

- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

It is important that all parents who receive one of the benefits listed above register for free school meals as this will enable your child's school to claim "pupil premium allocation". The pupil premium is additional funding given to publicly funded schools in England to raise attainment. This additional funding can help but new equipment and resources.

It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility. However, schools are accountable for how they have used the additional funding to support pupils and this information must be published on the school website.