Pupil Premium Statement 2026–2029

Our vision and commitment

At St Peter’s Primary School, our vision, ‘One Family, Aiming High, Learning Together with God,’ places every child at the heart of our school community.

Our school parable, The Lost Sheep, reminds us that every individual is valued, loved and deserving of care. Guided by Jesus’ teachings, we work together to ensure that every child has the support and opportunities they need to flourish academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

We believe that a child’s financial circumstances should never limit their opportunities or aspirations. We have high expectations for all our pupils and are committed to identifying and removing barriers to learning so that every child can achieve their potential.

About Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is additional government funding for state-funded schools in England to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

In primary schools, funding supports eligible children from Reception to Year 6. Eligibility includes children who qualify through the relevant free school meals criteria, including those recorded as eligible within the previous six years, known as ‘Ever 6’.

Additional funding, known as Pupil Premium Plus, supports looked-after children and eligible previously looked-after children, including children adopted from care or who left care through a special guardianship or child arrangements order. The former requirement for a child to have been looked after for more than six months no longer applies.

Service Pupil Premium supports eligible children from armed forces families, principally through pastoral provision. Its eligibility rules also cover certain children with previous service connections and qualifying bereaved service children.

Changes from September 2026

From September 2026, free school meals eligibility has expanded to include all children in households receiving Universal Credit. There are now two categories:

• Targeted Free School Meals: eligibility continues under the existing criteria, including the £7,400 annual household earnings threshold for Universal Credit households. This category remains linked to Pupil Premium.

• Expanded Free School Meals: children in Universal Credit households who do not qualify for Targeted Free School Meals can receive free meals. Becoming eligible through this category alone does not attract Pupil Premium funding.

Children who were eligible before the expansion continue within the Ever 6 arrangements for six years, even if they subsequently qualify only for Expanded Free School Meals or cease to qualify for free meals.

Universal infant free school meals, available to children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, do not by themselves establish Pupil Premium eligibility. Families are encouraged to check their entitlement through the school office, even if their child already receives a free school lunch.

Funding for 2026–2027

The following rates apply to the 2026–2027 financial year:

Funding category	Annual funding per eligible primary pupil
Free school meals / Ever 6 Pupil Premium	£1,550
Looked-after children	£2,690
Eligible previously looked-after children	£2,690
Service Pupil Premium	£360

Funding for looked-after children is managed by the local authority’s Virtual School Head, who determines how it is allocated to support their education. Funding rates and national guidance will be reviewed annually throughout our 2026–2029 strategy.

Our approach at St Peter’s

We take a whole-school approach to supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils. We recognise that each child’s circumstances are different and work closely with families to understand their strengths, needs and any barriers affecting their learning.

Our approach prioritises high-quality teaching, targeted academic support and wider support for attendance, wellbeing and participation. Spending decisions will be informed by evidence and aligned with the Department for Education’s permitted approaches. Pupil Premium is funding for the school rather than an individual allowance for each eligible child.

Support may focus on language and communication, reading, writing, mathematics, confidence, emotional wellbeing or access to enrichment opportunities. We assess pupils’ starting points, monitor their progress and adapt support as their needs change.

Our Christian values guide this work, helping children develop a strong sense of belonging, confidence in their abilities and ambitious hopes for their future.

Our priorities for 2026–2029

Building on the priorities identified through our previous review of provision, we will:

1. Strengthen Early Years provision so that disadvantaged and vulnerable children develop secure foundations in communication, language and early learning.

2. Accelerate progress and raise attainment through effective teaching, accurate assessment and timely support for pupils who are underachieving.

3. Strengthen leadership and governance oversight so that the needs and outcomes of disadvantaged pupils remain central to school improvement.

4. Maintain a clear and accountable Pupil Premium strategy, with spending, intended outcomes and evaluation reviewed annually.

Across these priorities, we will work with families to support attendance, wellbeing and full participation in school life.

Monitoring and accountability

Mr Conley leads the monitoring and development of Pupil Premium provision at St Peter’s. However, this is discussed at SLT weekly. 

We will review the impact of our approach on attainment, progress, attendance, engagement and wellbeing, using this evidence to refine our provision.

Our detailed Pupil Premium Strategy Statement will set out the school’s funding allocation, identified challenges, planned expenditure, intended outcomes and review of the previous year’s provision.

For further information, please visit the Department for Education’s Pupil Premium guidance.