Since 2011, the Pupil Premium has been the Government’s principal strategy to help schools improve the learning and opportunities of disadvantaged pupils, reducing the attainment gap and in doing so, reduce educational inequality.
Pupil Premium has now been extended to include children who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the past 6 years (the Ever 6 measure) and children who have left the care system through adoption, residence orders or special guardianship orders. Additionally, the Service Premium grant is for pupils who have a parent serving in the armed services.
The Department for Education (DfE) has recently updated a document on Pupil Premium in September 2024 regarding the conditions of the grant which is available to view here.