Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is additional funding given to publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers.

Pupil premium funding is available to both mainstream and non-mainstream schools, such as special schools and pupil referral units. Schools have the freedom to spend the Premium, which is additional to the underlying schools budget, in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for the most vulnerable pupils.

At Knavesmire, a targeted and strategic use of pupil premium funding supports us in achieving our vision:

• We ensure that teaching and learning opportunities meet the needs of all of the pupils.
• We ensure that appropriate provision is made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups. This includes ensuring that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and addressed.
• In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged.
• We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals. We reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil or groups of pupils the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged. A majority of any group will be made up of FSM children.

Pupil premium funding will be allocated following a needs analysis which will identify priority classes, groups or individuals. Limited funding and resources means that not all children receiving free school meals will be in receipt of pupil premium interventions at one time.

The range of provision includes: reducing class sizes, providing small group work, 1-1 support, additional teaching and learning opportunities provided through learning mentors, SENCo additional release time to plan and implement targeted support, ‘The Knavesmire Offer’ support package.

For further information, analysis and impact of the provision, please read the Pupil Premium Strategy and Expenditure documents below:

Draft KPS Pupil Premium Strategy Document 2023-25

Pupil Premium Expenditure 2020-21

Pupil Premium Expenditure 2019-20

Free school meals

If you receive certain benefits, your child could also qualify for free school meals during all school years. To qualify you must be receiving:

• Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods (£616.67 per month)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided you are also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual household gross income that does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by HMRC)
• Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

North Yorkshire Council hosts an online portal for free school meal applications that will give you an instant decision on whether your application is successful.