Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is government-funded financial support to raise the attainment of students who are disadvantaged. Such students are identified as those who:

  • are eligible for free school meals, or have been eligible within the last six years;

  • have been in local authority care for one day or more;

  • have left local authority care because of adoption, a special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order.

  • have been continuously looked after by the local authority for more than six months.

Students with parents in the armed forces are also eligible for a Service Premium.

How to apply for Free School Meals

Changes to Free School Meals (FSM)

What is changing?

Expanded entitlement for families on Universal Credit

From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of earnings.

Going forward, there will be two types of eligibility:

  • Targeted FSM: for households in receipt of universal credit earning £7,400 or less (includes free meals and additional support such as pupil premium).

  • Expanded FSM: for households in receipt of universal credit earning above £7,400 (free meals only)

End of transitional protections

Since 2018, some children have continued to receive free school meals, even if their family circumstances changed during the rollout of Universal Credit. This is referred to as transitional protections.

Now that entitlement is being expanded to all families on Universal Credit, these protections will end at the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

This means:

  • Some children may no longer be eligible from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year if their family does not receive Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit

  • Eligibility will now be based on current benefit status

What you need to do

Based on new government guidelines you will now need to re-verify your eligibility annually (between 1 July & 30th September) and you will receive an outcome of eligible- targeted, eligible-expanded or not eligible. This applies to ALL families. 

North Northants:
Applications must be made through the Parent Portal. You will need to create an account:
https://northnorthamptonshire.synergy.hsc.accessacloud.com/SynergyWeb/ 

West Northants:
Please click here to complete the online application form.

If you have any further questions about either Free School Meals or Pupil Premium, contact Mrs Norwood.

The Pupil Premium Strategy Statement statement details how we used the funding for students in 2025-2026.

Pupil Premium Learning Journey Pupil Premium Statement 2025 - 26