Disadvantaged

The ultimate objective for our school is that all pupils, irrespective of their background or the challenges they face, make good social and academic progress and attain high standards across all subject areas. The focus of our pupil premium strategy is to support disadvantaged pupils to achieve that goal, including strong progress for those who are already high attainers.

 The aims for our disadvantaged pupils are:

• Remove barriers to learning created by poverty, family circumstance and back-ground
• Narrow the attainment gaps between disadvantaged pupils and their non-disadvantaged counterparts both within school and nationally
• Ensure ALL pupils are able to read fluently and with good understanding to enable them to access the breadth of the curriculum
• Enable pupils to look after their social and emotional well-being and to develop resilience.
• Access a wide range of opportunities to develop their knowledge and under-standing of the world

Nationally there is a gap in the attainment of children who have free school meals and those who do not. In response to this, the Department for Education provides additional funding for all schools to ensure that these children meet or exceed minimum age related expectations.

At Portishead Primary School, ensuring that all children reach their full potential is embedded in the school vision and our practice. We have been able to use this additional funding to further this and extend the size of our inclusion team.

Schools have been asked to communicate how they use their pupil premium so that the community is aware of the steps being taken to close the gap in attainment for those pupils.

 

Please see the LSP and school strategy documents below to find out more about our approach, aims and use of funding.

Free School Meals and Pupil Premium 

There are two key changes in Pupil Premium and Free School Meals from September 2026:  

1. All children in households receiving Universal Credit are now eligible for Free School Meals, regardless of household earnings. However, schools only receive Pupil Premium funding for pupils whose household earnings meet the existing eligibility criteria, including the £7,400 earned income threshold for families receiving Universal Credit. 

2. Transitional protection ended at the end of July 2026. Transitional protection was in place from April 2018 and meant that pupils becoming eligible for free meals under the benefits-based criteria previously retained their entitlement for 6 years, even if their household circumstances changed. This protection no longer applies, and parents / carers should reapply for free school meals on an annual basis. 

What is Pupil Premium? 

Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the Government to help schools support disadvantaged pupils and close the attainment gap between them and their peers. 

Is Pupil Premium the same as Free School Meals? 

No. Free School Meals (FSM) provide eligible students with a free meal each school day. 

Pupil Premium is additional funding paid directly to schools to support the education and wellbeing of disadvantaged students. 

Although there is a close link between FSM eligibility and Pupil Premium funding, from September 2026 some students may qualify for Free School Meals without attracting Pupil Premium funding for the school. 

Who can apply for Free School Meals? 

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the Government have expanded FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:  

• Universal Credit 
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

Households may also be entitled to free school meals if they: 

• are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance 
• receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit 
• meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds 

 If you are unsure whether you are eligible or not, please make an application via the LGfL online portal, as this will confirm whether your child is entitled to Free School Meals. 

Which pupils attract Pupil Premium funding? 

Pupils who are eligible under the Government's benefits-based Free School Meals criteria continue to attract Pupil Premium funding for the school. 

Pupils in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of over £7,400 are eligible for free school meals, but the school will not receive pupil premium funding for them. 

What support will be given to Pupil Premium pupils? 

All students receive high-quality teaching and support to help them achieve their potential. Pupil Premium students may also benefit from additional academic support, targeted interventions, enrichment opportunities, and enhanced pastoral support where a need is identified. 

We may be able to support towards the cost of school visits and residential for Pupil Premium pupils- please contact the school office who will arrange a meeting with Mrs Sargent to discuss this. 

The school will also provide revision resources where required and may contribute towards music lessons and other enrichment opportunities. 

If you need any further support, please contact Mr Meredith, our Disadvantaged pupil lead via the school office. We will do all we can to support your child. 

This funding makes a significant difference to both individual students and the wider school community, therefore we would encourage all families who think they may be eligible to apply.