Pupil Premium and Free School Meals

What is the Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is additional government funding paid to schools to help close the gap in achievement between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. Schools receive funding for pupils who:

• are eligible for, or have been eligible for, free school meals at any point in the last 6 years ("Ever 6");

• are looked after by the local authority, or have left care through adoption, a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order;

• have a parent currently serving, or who has served in the last 6 years, in the armed forces (Service Pupil Premium).

Since September 2026, free school meal eligibility has been split into two categories — Targeted and Expanded — and only Targeted Free School Meals bring Pupil Premium funding into school. A free school meal on its own no longer automatically means the school receives Pupil Premium for that child. See below for what this means for your family.

How Bexton uses the Pupil Premium

At Bexton we are committed to ensuring that teaching and learning opportunities meet the needs of all pupils, particularly those who are vulnerable or socially disadvantaged. Pupil Premium funding is used to:

• close the gap in attainment for Pupil Premium pupils in core subjects, with progress tracked closely across each Key Stage;

• maintain high expectations for Pupil Premium pupils, including targeted support to stretch our most able disadvantaged pupils;

• fund targeted literacy and numeracy interventions, delivered by class teachers and supported by dedicated teaching assistants, wherever a pupil is falling behind or not reaching their potential;

• give every pupil the same opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities, clubs and residential visits, whatever their family's income.

Supporting our vulnerable pupils

We know emotional wellbeing is often one of the biggest barriers to learning for our more vulnerable pupils. Our Pastoral Care Lead, Mrs Franklin, provides a mentoring service to vulnerable children, including those eligible for the Pupil Premium, to build self-esteem and improve attitudes to school. We evaluate the impact of this support through an annual pupil survey and our Jigsaw Resilience Screening Tool (REST).

Supporting curricular and extra-curricular activities

So that Pupil Premium pupils have the same opportunities as their peers, funding is used to help with the cost of extra-curricular clubs, residential visits and branded uniform for those who qualify. If your child is eligible for the Pupil Premium and you'd like to know more about the clubs or uniform offer, please contact admin@bexton.cheshire.sch.uk.

What changed in September 2026

There are now two types of benefits-based free school meals for pupils in Years 3 to 6. (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 continue to get a free meal automatically for every child, regardless of income, through Universal Infant Free School Meals — this hasn't changed.)

• Targeted Free School Meals — households receiving Universal Credit with annual net earnings of £7,400 or less (£616.67 or less a month), or one of the other qualifying benefits below. This is the category that brings Pupil Premium funding into school, along with access to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

• Expanded Free School Meals — households receiving Universal Credit with earnings above £7,400 a year. These pupils get a free meal at school, but this does not bring Pupil Premium funding into school, and doesn't include HAF eligibility.

The transitional protection that had let some families keep free school meals since 2018, even after their circumstances changed, ended at the close of the 2025–26 school year. Everyone's eligibility has now been reassessed against the new criteria.

Is your child eligible?

Your child is eligible for Targeted Free School Meals and the Pupil Premium if you receive any of the following:

• Universal Credit, with household net earnings of £7,400 or less a year (£616.67 or less a month)

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit, provided you're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit, and have an annual gross income of £16,190 or less

• Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Your child is eligible for Expanded Free School Meals (a free meal, but not Pupil Premium) if your household receives Universal Credit with earnings above £7,400 a year.

Children who are or have been in care, and children with a parent currently serving — or who served in the last 6 years — in the armed forces, are also eligible for the Pupil Premium, whether or not they claim free school meals. Families with No Recourse to Public Funds may also qualify, subject to an income threshold.

Nursery children attending Bexton's Nursery for before- and after-lunch sessions may also be eligible — please speak to our Nursery Manager for details.

Pupils who qualified for free school meals in the past but are no longer eligible continue to attract Pupil Premium funding for 6 years after they stopped qualifying ("Ever 6").

It's worth applying, even in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2

If your child already gets a free meal through Universal Infant Free School Meals, it's still worth applying if you meet the criteria above — a successful application also brings Pupil Premium funding into school for your child, which we use for additional support, resources and enrichment. Please return any paperwork relating to your benefits or your child's entitlement, even if they already eat free at lunchtime or take a packed lunch.

How to apply

To apply, or to check eligibility, visit Free School Meals (cheshireeast.gov.uk), or call Cheshire East on 0300 123 5012. You'll need your National Insurance number and your child's date of birth; the form takes around 10 minutes. Claims cannot be backdated, so please apply as soon as you think your child might be eligible.

Any questions, please contact the school office: admin@bexton.cheshire.sch.uk.

Current funding rates (2026–27)