Primary schools are given a pupil premium for:

• Children in Reception to Year 6 who are, or have ever been, entitled to free school meals based on their family income: £1550 per pupil, per school year

• Children in care: £2690 per pupil, per school year

• Children previously in care who have been adopted, or who have a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order: £2690 per pupil, per school year

• Children recorded as being from service families: £360 per pupil, per school year.

Children qualify for free school meals – and accordingly pupil premium – if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Universal credit (if you apply on or after 2018 your household income must be £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

• Income-related Employment and Support allowance 

• Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

• younger than the compulsory age for starting school
• in full-time education

From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, your child will qualify for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.

If you do not qualify for most benefits (also known as having ‘no recourse to public funds’), your child may still be eligible for free school meals. Ask their school or local authority whether they’re eligible.