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Pupil Premium & Free School Meals

At Widmer End Community Combined School, our ethos of nurture ensures that every child receives the support they need to achieve their potential.

Pupil Premium is additional government funding provided to schools to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. The funding enables schools to provide targeted support based on the needs of eligible children.

  1. Pupil premium statement 2025-28
    PDF File

Free School Meals – changes from September 2026

From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, Free School Meal eligibility has been expanded. All children from households receiving Universal Credit are now entitled to receive a free school meal, regardless of household earnings.

There are now two categories of benefits-based Free School Meals:

  • Targeted Free School Meals
  • Children who qualify for Targeted Free School Meals are entitled to a free school meal and may also attract additional Pupil Premium funding for the school.

A child may qualify for Targeted Free School Meals if their parent or carer receives:

  • Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less, as assessed by HMRC
  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • the guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • support under the relevant No Recourse to Public Funds criteria

Children eligible for Targeted Free School Meals may also qualify for other support, including the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and, depending on individual circumstances, help with home-to-school transport.

Expanded Free School Meals

Children living in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings above £7,400 are now also entitled to a free school meal.

This is known as Expanded Free School Meals.

Expanded Free School Meals provide entitlement to the free school meal itself. They do not automatically provide eligibility for Pupil Premium or the additional support associated with Targeted Free School Meals.

Universal Infant Free School Meals – Reception, Year 1 and Year 2

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state-funded schools are entitled to a free school meal through the Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) scheme.

You do not need to meet an income or benefits test for your child to receive their Universal Infant Free School Meal.

However, if your family receives Universal Credit or meets any of the Targeted Free School Meal criteria above, it is very important that you still let us know and complete an eligibility check.

If your child qualifies for Targeted Free School Meals, the school may receive additional Pupil Premium funding to support their education. This applies even if your child is already receiving a free meal because they are in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2.

What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the Government to help schools improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children.

For the 2026/27 financial year, the Pupil Premium funding rate for eligible primary-aged pupils who are recorded as eligible for Targeted Free School Meals, or who have been eligible during the relevant previous six-year period, is £1,550 per pupil.

Pupil Premium funding is also available for:

  • children who are looked after by a local authority
  • children who were previously looked after by a local authority or other state care
  • eligible children from service families

The funding is paid to schools or local authorities as appropriate and is used to support eligible pupils and reduce barriers to learning.

At Widmer End, decisions about how Pupil Premium funding is used are based on the individual needs of our pupils and evidence about approaches that are most likely to improve educational outcomes.

Full details of how we plan to use the funding, the challenges identified within our school and the impact of previous spending can be found in our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement above. Our Pupil Premium Strategy is reviewed and updated annually in line with Department for Education requirements.

How do I apply for Free School Meals?

Free School Meal applications in Buckinghamshire are made through your child's school.

If you believe your child may be eligible, please complete our current Free School Meals application form and return it to the School Office.

  1. FSM - PP Application Form.pdf
    PDF File

The school will use the information provided to check your child's eligibility and confirm whether they qualify for Targeted Free School Meals or Expanded Free School Meals.

You can also read the current Buckinghamshire Council guidance here:

If you are unsure whether you qualify, please contact the School Office. We would encourage families to check rather than assume they are not eligible.

Telephone: 01494 714371
Email: office@widmerend.bucks.sch.uk

Early Years Pupil Premium – Pre-School

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is separate from school-age Pupil Premium. It provides additional funding to early years providers to support eligible children.

If your child attends our Pre-School, you may be able to apply for Early Years Pupil Premium if your family meets the eligibility criteria.

You can check eligibility and apply through Buckinghamshire Council:

If you need any help with an application, please contact the School Office.

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