Supporting Every Child to Flourish

At St Michael's, we are committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The Pupil Premium is additional government funding provided to schools to improve educational outcomes for Children Experiencing Disadvantage. Its central purpose is to help schools address inequalities in educational outcomes and ensure that all pupils can access the opportunities, support and experiences they need to thrive. Research shows that children can encounter a range of barriers to learning at different points in their lives. Through the effective use of Pupil Premium funding, schools can improve quality first teaching and provide targeted support that helps pupils succeed academically, socially and emotionally, improving outcomes both now and in the future.

Who is Eligible for Pupil Premium?

The government provides Pupil Premium funding for pupils who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• recorded as eligible for free school meals (FSM) or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years (FSM Ever 6)
• previously looked-after children (PLAC): pupils who were looked after by a local authority or other state care immediately before being adopted, or who left local authority or other state care on a special guardianship order or child arrangements order (previously known as a residence order). This includes children adopted from state care or equivalent from outside England and Wales.
• Children who are currently looked after by a local authority.

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, DfE is delivering an expansion to FSM eligibility to include all pupils from households in receipt of Universal Credit (UC).  There will then be two categories of free school meals:

• ‘Targeted FSM’, which continues to be based on the existing £7,400 income threshold; and
• ‘Expanded FSM’, which will apply to meals only, covering pupils who do not qualify for Targeted FSM, but who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit.

Benefits linked to free school meal eligibility, including pupil premium, will only be available to the Targeted FSM cohort. For the purpose of these conditions of grant, references to “free school meals” does therefore not include pupils which are only eligible for free school meals through the new expanded FSM entitlement.

Service Pupil Premium

The Service Pupil Premium (SPP) is additional funding provided by the government for pupils whose parents are currently serving in the UK Armed Forces or have done so within the last six years. The funding is designed to help schools support the pastoral, social and emotional wellbeing of service children, particularly where mobility, deployment or family separation may impact on their experiences.

Pupils are eligible for SPP if they meet any of the following criteria:

• one of their parents is serving in the regular armed forces (including pupils with a parent who is on full commitment as part of the full-time reserve service) or is in the armed forces of another nation and is stationed in England and they have been registered as a ‘service child’ in the most recent autumn DfE school census
• they do not currently have ‘service child’ status but they have been registered as a ‘service child’ on any DfE school census in the past 6 years
• one of their parents died while serving in the armed forces and the pupil receives a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the War Pensions Scheme

While funding is linked to specific eligibility criteria, we recognise that disadvantage can be experienced in many different ways. Our schools work to understand the needs of their communities and, wherever possible, support children whose circumstances may impact their learning, wellbeing or engagement with school.

If your child is eligible for this Pupil Premium funding they will be entitled for the duration of their time at Primary School even if your personal situation changes.

Our Approach

At St Michael's we are ambitious for every child. We believe that all pupils should experience high-quality teaching, positive relationships and a strong sense of belonging within their school community.

Our strategy is informed by educational research and focuses on creating the conditions in which children can thrive. This includes:

• Promoting excellent attendance and engagement with learning.
• Building a positive and inclusive school culture.
• Developing strong relationships between children, families and staff.
• Maintaining high expectations for achievement, behaviour and participation.
• Supporting emotional wellbeing and personal development.
• Ensuring pupils can access wider aspects of school life.

We recognise that children learn best when they feel safe, valued and connected. By investing in these foundations, we aim to improve both wellbeing and academic achievement.

 

Poverty-Proofing the School Experience

Across our trust, we are committed to poverty-proofing the school experience wherever possible. We continually review our school provision, trips and events to identify and reduce financial barriers that may affect participation in learning or wider school life. Our aim is to ensure that no child feels excluded from opportunities because of their family's circumstances.

To ensure this we may offer support with:

• Educational visits and enrichment activities.
• Access to clubs and wider curriculum opportunities.
• Resources required for learning.
• Breakfast provision and other forms of practical support.
• Family engagement and pastoral support.

By reducing barriers and creating inclusive opportunities, we help ensure that all children can participate fully in school life and develop a strong sense of belonging.

 

How We Use Pupil Premium Funding

Pupil Premium funding is used to support three key areas:

1. High-Quality Teaching

Evidence shows that high-quality teaching has the greatest impact on pupil outcomes. Therefore, funding is used to:

• Develop staff expertise through professional development.
• Strengthen classroom practice and curriculum delivery.
• Provide additional teaching support where appropriate.
• Ensure early identification of pupils' needs.

2. Targeted Academic Support

Where additional support is needed, schools provide carefully planned interventions that may include:

• Reading support and early literacy development.
• Mathematics support.
• Speech and language assessment and intervention.
• Small-group or individual support tailored to pupils' needs.

3. Wider Strategies

Funding also supports approaches that improve children's readiness to learn by focusing on:

• Attendance and engagement.
• Pastoral and wellbeing support.
• Family support and partnership working.
• Enrichment opportunities and personal development.

Many schools within the trust have dedicated staff who work closely with children and families to provide pastoral support, promote regular attendance and strengthen home-school partnerships.

All staff within our schools share responsibility for championing the progress, wellbeing and achievement of children experiencing disadvantage and ensuring they achieve academic success and are fully included in every aspect of school life.