Pupil Premium

Enabling Every Child to Flourish

At Silver Birch Primary School, we are committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of background or circumstance. Guided by our vision, "Where Learning Blossoms...", we use Pupil Premium funding to remove barriers to learning, raise achievement and ensure all pupils can fully participate in school life.

Pupil Premium is additional Government funding provided to help schools support disadvantaged pupils and close the attainment gap between eligible pupils and their peers. We carefully plan, monitor and evaluate how this funding is used to maximise its impact on pupils' academic outcomes, wellbeing, attendance and wider opportunities.

What is Pupil Premium Funding?

Pupil Premium is additional Government funding allocated to schools to support pupils who may face barriers to learning due to economic disadvantage or other circumstances.

At Silver Birch Primary School, this funding is used to:

Raise attainment and accelerate progress
Provide targeted academic support and interventions
Enhance wellbeing and emotional support
Improve attendance and engagement
Support participation in educational visits, clubs and enrichment activities
Ensure all pupils can access the full curriculum and wider school experiences

Who is Eligible?

Free School Meals (FSM)

Many pupils qualify for Pupil Premium because their family receives certain benefits which entitle them to Free School Meals.

This is different from Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM), through which all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive a free school meal.

Even if your child already receives a universal free meal, families should still apply for Free School Meals if they think they may be eligible. This enables the school to receive valuable Pupil Premium funding which directly benefits pupils.

Service Children

Funding may also be available where:

A parent is currently serving in the Armed Forces
A parent has served in the Armed Forces within the last three years
A parent died whilst serving in the Armed Forces and the child receives a qualifying pension

Previously Looked After Children

Additional funding is available for children who have left local authority care through:

Adoption
Special Guardianship Orders
Child Arrangement Orders
Residence Orders

Funding Rates

Pupil Premium funding is currently allocated at the following rates:

£1,550 per eligible primary-aged pupil receiving Free School Meals
£360 per eligible Service Child
£2,690 per Looked After or Previously Looked After Child

How We Use Pupil Premium Funding

Our Pupil Premium Strategy is closely linked to our School Development Priorities and informed by research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).

Our approach is built around three key areas:

High-Quality Teaching

Investment in staffing, professional development and curriculum delivery to ensure excellent teaching for all pupils. We believe that high-quality teaching has the greatest impact on pupil outcomes and benefits all learners.

Targeted Academic Support

Evidence-based interventions, one-to-one support and small-group teaching are used to accelerate progress and address identified gaps in learning.

Wider Strategies

We recognise that success extends beyond the classroom. Funding is also used to support:

Attendance and punctuality
Emotional wellbeing and mental health
Family support and engagement
Enrichment opportunities
Educational visits and residential experiences
Access to resources, equipment and extracurricular activities

Pupil Premium Strategy and Impact

2026-2027 Strategy

For the 2026-2027 academic year, a total of £233,500 has been allocated within the school budget to support disadvantaged pupils and help ensure every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

The 2026-2027 Pupil Premium Strategy Statement will be published once approved by the Governing Body.

2025-2026 Strategy

For the 2025-2026 academic year, Silver Birch Primary School received £212,665 in Pupil Premium funding.

Funding was allocated across:

Teaching: £47,000
Targeted Academic Support: £105,100
Wider Strategies: £50,500

Total Planned Expenditure: £202,600

2024-2025 Impact

During the 2024-2025 academic year, the school received £202,560 in Pupil Premium funding, comprising:

£190,920 for 129 eligible pupils
£10,280 for 4 Previously Looked After Children
£1,360 for 4 Service Children

Funding was allocated across:

Teaching: £47,000
Targeted Academic Support: £115,050
Wider Strategies: £57,000

Total Expenditure: £202,600

Our investment ensured that disadvantaged pupils received the support, opportunities and experiences needed to flourish both academically and personally.

Further Information

If you think your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium funding, please contact the school office. Even if your child already receives a universal free school meal, registering entitlement could unlock additional support and resources for both your child and the school.

Telephone: 0191 5009695
Email: office@silverbirchprimary.co.uk