If your child is eligible for free school meals, on economic grounds (not universal infant free school meals) the school will get extra funding for education. The funding is called Pupil Premium. The money can be used to help with the cost of school trips, extra teaching staff and activities.

The pupil Premium Funding is provided to schools which is additional to main school funding. It is allocated according to the number of pupils on-roll who are eligible for free school meals, a smaller amount is allocated to the number of children from service families, and an allocation for each pupil who has been 'Looked After' [in care] for 6 months or more. In 2012, funding was extended to include pupils who have been eligible for free school meals [FSM] within the past 6 years. It is paid by a specific grant based on the school census figures for pupils, from reception to year 6. The pupils are registered as eligible for FSM at any point in the last 6 years.

It is for schools to decide how pupil premium is spent, since they are best places to assess what additional provision should be made for individual pupils within their responsibility.