Pupil Premium

Additional Pupil Premium Plus funding is available to schools for children who have been adopted or are under a specific order directly after being in care. This funding is currently an additional £2,410 per year, per child, to support the education of children who were previously in care but for whom this has stopped due to one of the following criteria:

• Through a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
• Through A Residence Order (RO)
• • Through a Child Arrangement Order (CAO)

Schools are not advised whether a child has ever been in care or adopted. It is therefore for those with parental responsibility to decide if they wish to let the school know their child’s status.

As this is a sensitive issue this notification is to allow you to make the choice whether or not you wish to disclose this information. All information received will be treated in strictest confidence.

This additional funding under the title of Post Looked After Arrangement, is only eligible for children who fit the criteria listed.  If your child fits any of the criteria listed and you are willing for this information to be included in a Department for Education (DfE) Statutory return, please contact the Headteacher giving the name and date of birth of the child concerned. You will then be contacted and asked to provide supporting evidence, e.g. the Adoption (Court) Order. In order to claim the funding for the next financial year the information will need to be included in the Census return that is sent to the DfE each Autumn.

Pupil Premium Plus funding is not ring-fenced. It is designed to provide specific support to raise attainment and address the wider needs of children in this potentially vulnerable group. Support ranges from academic tuition and resources to emotional support. National statistics show that children who have previously been in care may face unique challenges and will benefit from targeted support to help their personal and academic development.

There is no obligation for you to share this information with us.

Families who receive certain benefits may be eligible for free school meals. 

Your child may be eligible for free school meals if you are in receipt of one of the following benefits: – 

• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (after tax and not including any benefits)
• Income Support. 
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. 
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. 
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. 
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit. 
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit) 
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190). 

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals. Registering for free meals will provide your child’s secondary school with an additional £985 per year, to invest in high quality teaching and additional teachers; provide targeted academic tuition and to support issues that are impacting on attendance, behaviour or wellbeing.  If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in on 31 March 2023.

This additional money is available from central government for every child whose parent is receiving one of the benefits listed above. The funding is designed to raise the attainment of disadvantaged students and narrow any gaps that exist between them and their peers. Schools are awarded the Pupil Premium funding to deploy according to their context and to see the greatest impact on improving the academic and personal development of the young people identified. 

You can apply online for free school meals with Oldham Council at: https://www.oldham.gov.uk/forms/form/525/en/free_school_meals_fsm_application_form

 You do not need to re-apply for free school meals every year unless your circumstances change. If you have any queries about free school meals you can contact Oldham Council on:

Phone: 0161 770 6688 Email: benefits@oldham.gov.uk