Supporting disadvantaged students at Sheffield Springs Academy

Purpose:

• We are given a Pupil Premium fund by the Government to tackle underlying inequalities between students eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers. This funding is in addition to the schools main funding and is aimed to be used for students who need it the most.  
• It is for the Academy to decide how the Pupil Premium fund is allocated. We allocate funds having assessed what additional provisions and resources will be beneficial to FSM pupils at our Academy.
• The Academy is free to spend the Pupil Premium fund as we see fit. However, we will be held accountable for how we have used the additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils. Measures are included in performance tables that capture the achievement of those disadvantaged pupils covered by the Pupil Premium funding.

Key facts:

• The Pupil Premium is allocated to children from low-income families who have been eligible for FSM at any point during the last 6 years and children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months.
• Local authorities are responsible for looked after children in care and will make payments to schools and academies where an eligible looked after child is on roll.

If your child is attending Sheffield Springs Academy and is not already on our FSM record, you may be entitled to FSM if you receive any of these benefits:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods) 
• Income Support
• income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income related Employment Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit as long as you have a yearly household income of less than £16,190 (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs) and do not get Working Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Applying for FSM:

If you believe your child is currently not FSM but should be, you may be eligible for pupil premium funding for your child. You can apply to Sheffield City Council via the link below: Apply for free school meals