Pupil Premium
At Great Sankey Primary School we firmly believe that every child should be given every opportunity to reach their full potential, whatever their background or circumstance. We hold high aspirations for all our children and believe that no child should be left behind. Pupil Premium is a percentage of our budget and this page and the attachments within it detail how it is spent in our school to maximise impact.
Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the Government to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in state-funded schools in England, ensuring they benefit from the same opportunities as all other children. Schools have the flexibility to decide how best to use this funding, based on the specific needs of their pupils and informed by evidence of what has the greatest impact.
Our Pupil Premium Strategy outlines how we use this funding to support eligible pupils, remove barriers to learning and improve outcomes. The strategy is reviewed annually, with spending and impact carefully monitored by school leaders and governors to ensure the funding is used effectively and delivers the greatest possible benefit for our pupils.
September 2026 Update
- From September 2026, the Government has expanded Free School Meal entitlement to all children whose families receive Universal Credit. This means that more children will benefit from a free school meal.
- This change does not automatically increase Pupil Premium funding. Pupil Premium continues to be allocated using separate Department for Education eligibility criteria. As a result, some pupils may be entitled to Free School Meals, but may not receive Pupil Premium funding.
Schools receive Pupil Premium funding for pupils who:
- are currently eligible for Targeted Free School Meals (FSM) (based on the existing Pupil Premium eligibility criteria) or have been eligible at any point in the last six years (Ever 6 FSM);
- are looked after by a local authority;
- have left local authority care through adoption, a Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangements Order; or
- are service children with a parent serving in the regular armed forces, who have served within the last six years, or who receive a military pension.
- We encourage all eligible families to register, as Pupil Premium funding enables the school to provide additional educational support, pastoral provision and enrichment opportunities that benefit disadvantaged pupils.
Our Approach to using Pupil Premium Funding
All schools have the freedom to spend the Pupil Premium in a way they think will best support their pupils. Our staff and governors are committed to meeting children's social, pastoral and academic needs and carefully review our spending and impact every year. Our approach is centred around understanding the individual needs of our disadvantaged pupils and addressing the barriers that may affect their learning, attendance, wellbeing and wider participation in school life. We recognise that these barriers are different for every child and therefore our support is carefully tailored.
Our strategy is built around three key areas:
- High-quality teaching – ensuring all pupils receive excellent classroom teaching, with skilled staff delivering an ambitious curriculum and targeted professional development.
- Targeted academic support – providing additional teaching, tutoring and intervention where needed to help pupils make strong progress. P
- Wider strategies – supporting attendance, behaviour, emotional wellbeing, enrichment opportunities and family engagement to enable pupils to thrive both academically and personally.
Funding may be used to provide:
- High-quality classroom teaching and staff professional development.
- Targeted one-to-one and small group interventions to address gaps in learning.
- Reading, writing and mathematics support programmes.
- Early intervention for speech, language and communication needs.
- Nurture provision and pastoral support to develop social, emotional and mental wellbeing.
- Family support and early help to remove barriers to learning.
- Attendance support and close partnership working with families to promote excellent attendance.
- Access to educational visits, residential experiences, music tuition, clubs and wider enrichment opportunities.
- Resources and equipment that enable pupils to access learning successfully.
- Support for pupils experiencing disadvantage alongside Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), recognising that some pupils may benefit from both SEND and Pupil Premium funding.
Measuring Impact
We continually evaluate the effectiveness of our Pupil Premium Strategy through:
- Ongoing assessment of pupils' progress and attainment.
- Monitoring attendance, behaviour and engagement.
- Evaluation of intervention programmes.
- Regular review by senior leaders and governors.
- Annual publication of our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement, including planned expenditure, intended outcomes and evaluation of impact, in line with Department for Education requirements.
Our Commitment
Every member of staff shares responsibility for improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. We are committed to understanding each child's individual strengths and barriers, adapting our teaching and support accordingly, and ensuring that all pupils have access to the rich experiences and opportunities that enable them to flourish and be the best they can be.
If you would like further information about Pupil Premium or believe your child may be eligible for Free School Meals or Pupil Premium funding, please contact the school office. We will be happy to offer advice and support.
