The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.

Pupil Premium funds are allocated by the central government for pupils who have ever been Free School Meals in the last 6 years (FSM Ever6) or who are 'Looked After Children' (children in care or adopted).

The Government has decided that eligibility for the Pupil Premium will include pupils who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years (FSM Ever6) or who are 'looked After children' (children in care or adopted). A premium has also been introduced for children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces.

You can read further information on the Department for Education's website (external link).