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High Ash C of E Primary

"Let your light shine" Matthew 5:16

Pupil Premium

Free School Meals - Pupil Premium UPDATE

Changes for the 2026 to 2027 academic year

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, ALL children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending these schools will be entitled to receive a free meal.

We have made this a legal requirement through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and intend to lay additional regulations extending this duty to maintained nursery schools.

Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:

  • Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less

  • Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit

Ever 6 FSM Cohort

Pupils who are, or have been, eligible for FSM over the last 6 years are part of the ‘Ever 6’ FSM cohort. This is used for disadvantage funding and accountability purposes. Following the expansion of FSM, Ever 6 FSM will be based on targeted FSM.

We can use the extra funding in any way we choose to improve the quality of our children's education. This could include intervention and support for individual and small groups, additional training for staff and financial support for parents for educational visits and after school provision. 

If you think you may be eligible, please see HERE.  If you are eligible for the extra funding, please contact the school office. Whatever the outcome of your application (whether you qualify or not) it will not affect any other benefits that you may receive.

 

What is the Pupil Premium Grant?

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

There are 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

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. 

 

Pupil premium at high ash

High Ash is committed to ensuring that all pupils, including those eligible for Pupil Premium funding, have the opportunity to achieve well, develop confidence and independence, and fully participate and be successful in school life and beyond. Our approach is informed by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) evidence-informed approach to improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and the principle set out in government guidance on effective use of Pupil Premium funding.

We use a three-tiered approach of quality first teaching, targeted academic support and wider strategies. This enables us to identify barriers to learning early, provide appropriate support and evaluate the impact of our provision. 

Quality First Teaching

Quality first teaching is at the heart of our approach. We recognise that consistently strong classroom practice has the greatest potential to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

  • Continuous professional development: Teachers and LSA receive ongoing CPD to strengthen their knowledge, skills and classroom practice. Teachers are supported through mentoring and professional development to ensure that teaching meets the needs of all learners.
  • Effective curriculum planning: Clear schemes of work support the delivery of the National Curriculum and provide sequencing, challenge and opportunities for pupils to develop secure knowledge and understanding.
  • Assessment and tracking: Clear and consistent assessment processes enable staff to identify gaps in learning, monitor progress and respond promptly where pupils are not making expected progress. PPM pupils are closely tracked so that support can be adapted according to individual needs.
  • Inclusive classroom practice: Teachers use assessment information and knowledge of individual pupils to adapt teaching, provide appropriate scaffolding and develop pupils' independence rather than creating unnecessary reliance on adult support.

Targeted Academic Support

Where pupils require additional support, we use assessment and professional knowledge to identify specific barriers to learning and provide targeted academic support. Support may include:

  • Focused interventions to address identified gaps in knowledge or skills;
  • Pre-teaching to enable pupils to access upcoming learning with greater confidence;
  • Revision and consolidation sessions;
  • Targeted support from trained LSAs
  • Additional opportunities to practice and apply key knowledge and skills.

Interventions are planned carefully around pupil’s needs and are monitored for their effectiveness. The progress of pupils receiving intervention is monitored and evaluated half-termly. A key focus is on building independence, resilience and confidence.

Wider Strategies Support

We recognise that educational outcomes can be affected by barriers beyond the classroom. Our wider strategies therefore seek to ensure that disadvantaged pupils can participate fully in school life and have access to the resources and experiences they need to thrive. This includes:

  • Good attendance and punctuality: Attendance is closely monitored, with our Attendance Officer identifying concerns at an early stage and working with pupils and the families to address barriers to regulate attendance.
  • Support with school uniform and essential equipment;
  • Access to extracurricular clubs and enrichment opportunities;
  • Financial support with costs of educational visits, trips and residential trips.
  • Access to counselling, pastoral support and appropriate emotional wellbeing provision;
  • Access to technology, books and other resources that support learning both in and beyond the classroom.
  • These approaches are tailored to individual pupils and families where appropriate.

 

Our strategy is monitored through the Pupil Premium Strategy Statement detailing the expenditure, intended outcomes and the measured impact on closing the attainment gap.

  1. Pupil_premium_strategy_statement 2025-26.docx - Google Docs
    (PDF File)
  2. Pupil Premium Strategy 2024 to 2025
    (PDF File)

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