Pupil Premium

At Stoke Park Junior School, we believe that every child is unique, valued and capable of achieving excellence. Our school values - Respect, Inspire, Safe and Engage - are at the heart of everything we do. They guide our commitment to nurturing the whole child and ensuring that all children, regardless of background or circumstance, are empowered to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

We recognise that some children face additional challenges that can impact their learning. The Pupil Premium Grant is a vital resource that enables Stoke Park Junior School to systematically remove barriers, close attainment gaps and provide equitable learning opportunities to all eligible children. We use this funding with precision and purpose to ensure that disadvantaged children are not only supported but championed - so they can flourish alongside their peers and fulfil their potential.

What is Pupil Premium funding?

The Pupil Premium Grant is government funding designed to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children and help schools address barriers to learning. Funding is allocated to support specific groups of children, including those eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), children who are looked after or previously looked after, and children from service families.

At Stoke Park Junior School, we use Pupil Premium funding strategically to ensure that all eligible children have equitable opportunities to succeed and achieve their full potential, regardless of their starting points.

Funding Allocations for 2026/27

Our school receives:

  • £1,550 for each primary-aged child who is eligible for Free School Meals or has been eligible at any point within the previous six years (Ever 6 FSM).

  • £2,690 for each Previously Looked After Child (PLAC).

  • £2,690 for each child who is Looked After by a local authority (allocated via the Virtual School).

  • £360 for each Service Child.

How We Use Our Funding

Our approach is informed by the latest evidence from the Department for Education (DfE) and the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).

Funding is used to:

  • Provide targeted academic support for children requiring additional help to achieve age-related expectations.

  • Deliver evidence-informed interventions that accelerate progress and attainment.

  • Enhance classroom provision through additional teaching assistant support and adaptive teaching strategies.

  • Invest in high-quality professional development for teachers and support staff to strengthen teaching and learning for disadvantaged children and those with SEND.

  • Support attendance, wellbeing and engagement to remove barriers that may impact learning.

Our Three-Year Strategy

Stoke Park Junior School implements a robust three-year Pupil Premium Strategy, aligned with Department for Education guidance and Education Endowment Foundation research.

The strategy is fully integrated within our School Strategic Plan and combines short, medium and long-term actions to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and strengthen whole-school provision.

Our strategic priorities are:

  • Ensuring consistently high-quality teaching across all classrooms.

  • Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children.

  • Reducing attainment gaps where they exist.

  • Providing targeted support for children who are not making expected progress.

  • Addressing barriers to learning, including attendance, wellbeing and behaviour.

  • Ensuring funding is directed where it will have the greatest impact.

For further information, please read our Pupil Premium Policy, Three-Year Strategy and Pupil Premium Strategy Statement.

Pupil Premium Strategy 2026-2027

Free School Meals

Your child may be eligible for Free School Meals if you receive one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support.

  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit.

  • Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income does not exceed £16,190).

  • Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).

  • Universal Credit.

Children who receive any of these benefits directly, rather than through a parent or carer, may also qualify.

Important Information

From September 2026, all children living in households receiving Universal Credit are entitled to Free School Meals.

There are now two categories of Free School Meal eligibility:

  • Targeted Free School Meals for families receiving Universal Credit and earning less than £7,400 per year after tax (excluding benefits). This is the previous eligibility threshold and may also qualify a child for additional support through the Pupil Premium Grant.

  • Expanded Free School Meals for families receiving Universal Credit who earn above the £7,400 threshold. These children are still entitled to Free School Meals under the government's expanded eligibility arrangements.

Children eligible for Targeted Free School Meals may also attract additional funding for schools through the Pupil Premium Grant.

Transitional protections for Free School Meals ended at the end of the 2025/26 academic year. Eligibility is now assessed based on a family's current circumstances. Parents and carers who believe their child may be eligible are encouraged to apply, as this may provide additional support for both the child and the school.

Please visit the Hampshire Online FSM Application (click link) for more information to see if your child is eligible. This contains a quick, easy and confidential online application form. The financial information you provide will not be seen by your child’s school or teachers and the school will only be notified if your application is approved.