What is the Pupil Premium?

2025/2026

The Pupil Premium is additional Government funding for schools to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. The school receives Pupil Premium based on the number of children in the following groups:

• Pupils entitled to free school meals (FSM) now or at any point during the past six years.
• Pupils who have been continuously Looked After for the past six months.
• Pupils who are adopted from care under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 or have left care under a Special Guardianship Residence Order.
• Pupils of parents who are currently, or during the past three years, serving in the regular armed forces, or are in receipt of a pension from the MOD
• Schools have the freedom to spend the funding, in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for Pupil Premium pupils.

You can find out more about the Pupil Premium on the Government website.

Please read our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement, attachment below, to find out about the funding we receive at Meadow Park and how it supports our work with disadvantaged pupils.

Changes for the 2026 to 2027 academic year

Ending “protected Free School Meals” category

Since 1^st April 2018. Pupils eligible for free meals under previous benefits-based criteria retained their entitlement, even if their household circumstances changed, for the remaining time the pupil was in Primary School.

Transitional protections end at the end of 2025/26 academic year. From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, transitional protections for free school meals will end. Households must meet the new FSM eligibility criteria from the start of the 2026/27 academic year to continue receiving provision. Any child currently in receipt of FSM will automatically have their eligibility re-checked and the school will be notified the results of this check (between June and September 26)

To check your eligibility please go to our Free School Meals page.

What is the Sport Premium?

The Sport Premium is a sum of money paid to primary schools by the Government specifically to improve their PE and sport provision. The idea behind this funding is to promote healthy lifestyle choices and give children opportunities to reach the performance levels they are capable of.

We believe that PE and sport play a vital role in helping children thrive at Meadow Park Academy. You can read about the impact of this funding in 2024-25 in the attached statement below.