The Pupil Premium grant is an allocation of additional funding provided to schools to support specific groups of children who are vulnerable to possible underachievement. These include those who are entitled to Free School Meals (FSM) those looked after by the local authority and children in the armed service personnel. (In 2012, funding was extended to include pupils who have been eligible for free school meals within the past 6 years (Ever 6)

How to apply for Free school meals/Pupil Premium grant

All children in EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2 are provided with free School Meals. However, it is important to see whether your child has access to Pupil Premium Funding and to do this you still need to apply for Free School meals. If you think your child may qualify, please apply by following the link to Peterborough City Council website application form.

Free school meals | Peterborough City Council 

At Queens Drive Infant School, we use the funding to tackle a range of barriers to learning, and to ensure that all children are able to make the most of every opportunity to make accelerated progress and achieve at least expected standards in reading, writing and maths.

The EEF Pupil Premium guidance is clear that the most effective strategy for improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils is access to a high-quality curriculum through high-quality teaching and learning. We make decisions in order to develop the cultural capital, self-regulation techniques and engagement in lifelong learning that all children are entitled to. We provide a range of targeted support for our disadvantaged pupils, which includes, but is not limited to-

• Ensure all children have access to quality first teaching across the school
• provide 1 to 1 or small group interventions when required in phonics, reading, writing, maths and wellbeing.
• Carefully track achievement and progress and provide academic support through interventions led by experienced TA’s and teachers.
• Ensure all children have access to extra -curricular activities including clubs, trips and seasonal experiences.
• Ensure all children have the equipment they need to engage with home learning, including homework and book packs.
• Ensure every opportunity is taken to engage with parents and involve them in their child’s education.
• Increase children’s access to literacy in the home
• Support children and their families facing challenging circumstances with support from our Family Liaison Officer, play therapy or information about wider services. 
• attendance support

In September 2024, the Education Endownment Fund (EEF) updated and  published their Guide to Pupil Premium (see documents below). This supports schools in spending their Pupil Premium to maximise the benefit for their students. The report recommends school take a tiered approach to Pupil Premium spending. Teaching should be the top priority, including professional development, training and support for early career teachers and recruitment and retention. Targeted support for struggling pupils should also be a key component of an effective Pupil Premium strategy; as well as strategies that relate to non-academic factors, including improving attendance, behaviour and social and emotional support.  As a school we have used the information and research within this report to guide our spending of Pupil Premium money.

At Queen's Drive Infant School we plan spending from the Pupil premium budget using the 3 Tiered Approach from the EEF. (Education Endownment Fund)

Tier 1- Quality First Teaching - has the greatest impact on pupil progress, especially disadvantaged pupils.

Tier 2 - Interventions - There may be call to address gaps in learning or fast track pupils through interventions.

Tier 3 - Wider Strategies - focusing on removing the non academic barriers to learning.