Pupil Premium
Implementation of New FSM Eligibility Criteria
1. Summary
From 1 September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) is changing how FSM is administered under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. While FSM eligibility will expand to include all households receiving Universal Credit (UC), previous transitional protections will permanently end. The end of transitional protections will see some changes to existing FSM awards. The Council will undertake annual eligibility checking for all existing FSM claims prior to the commencement of the new academic year.
Pupils who have been eligible for FSM over the last 6 years are part of the Ever 6 cohort and this is used for disadvantage funding. Pupils who stop being eligible for FSM as part of eligibility checking and due to transitional protection ending will still receive pupil premium funding as part of the Ever 6 cohort.
2. The New FSM Categories & Funding Rules
The funding will now be separated into two criterias:
Targeted FSM: Pupils in households on Universal Credit with an earned income under £7,400. These students receive free meals, qualify for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme, and directly feed into the Ever 6 cohort to attract Pupil Premium funding.
Expanded FSM: Pupils in households on Universal Credit with an earned income over £7,400. These students receive free meals but do not generate new Pupil Premium funding or enter the Ever 6 pipeline.
Universal free meals for primary children in Barking and Dagenham also remains in place until 2028 currently.
How to check eligibility and make a claim
Direct New Claims Online: Parents can now use the eligibility checking service (by registering) to confirm if they are eligible for FSM. Direct families with newly changed circumstances or those that may not previously have been eligible, to the new digital DfE Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service (ECS) portal where eligibility can be confirmed.
Any parent who confirms eligibility can make an application for FSM: Make a claim for Free School Meals . The FSM application form will be updated prior to the commencement of the new academic year to account for these changes. Parents should be advised to not submit an application without checking eligibility first to ensure applications are not refused as ineligible.
Funding rates for the 2026 to 2027 financial year
This table shows how the pupil premium grant is allocated to schools and local authorities in the 2026 to 2027 financial year, based on per pupil rates.
| Funding criteria | Amount of funding for each primary-aged pupil per year | Amount of funding for each secondary-aged pupil per year | Funding is paid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils who are eligible for free school meals, or have been eligible in the past 6 years | £ 1,480 | £ 1,050 | School |
| Pupils previously looked after by a local authority or other state care | £ 2,570 | £ 2,570 | School |
| Children who are looked after by the local authority | £ 2,570 | £ 2,570 | Local authority |
Purpose
PP grant provides funding for the purpose of improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils. St Joseph's School use their PP grant to accelerate disadvantaged pupils’ progress, in order to raise their attainment. Which also contributes to closing the national attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
Opportunity for children and young people is too often defined by their background. St Joseph's School is determined to do more to improve the life chances of our most disadvantaged children and break the link between background and future success. The pupil premium grant plays a critical role in supporting the work of the government to drive high and rising standards and ensure every child, no matter their background, can achieve and thrive.
Core Offer
The school has a Core Offer for pupils eligible for Pupil Premium. The school will assess which relevant elements of the Core Offer will apply to eligible children, dependent on their achievement, progress and needs as identified by the school within the allocation designated for Pupil Premium. The Core Offer for eligible pupils consists of the following:
- academic interventions and support to raise the attainment and progress in core subjects of English (reading and Writing) and Maths;
- enrichment activities to provide wider opportunities and enhance the self-esteem of pupils (these may include subsidised workshops and school trips, music and instrumental tuition, free places at school-run extra-curricular clubs and external clubs where appropriate);
- interventions and support through small group work to develop Personal, Social and Health Education skills;
- interventions and support through small group work to develop self-confidence and communication skills
- supporting in paying contributions towards educational visits and activities.
