Hermitage is committed to ensuring all children fulfil their potential and reach for excellence. We accept that there are many factors that can hinder this process for some children, and we are determined to work to actively reduce the impact of these.

Our Pupil Premium Grant is used to support key children and families so that we can work to narrow any attainment gap.

Eligibility for Pupil Premium

All children who currently qualify for free school meals based on their family circumstances are entitled to Pupil Premium. This applies if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Universal credit (provided you have a net income of £7,400 or less)

• Income support

• Income-based jobseekers’ allowance

• Income-related employment and support allowance

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

• The guaranteed element of state pension credit

• Child tax credit, provided that you are not also entitled to working tax credit and have an annual gross income of £16,190 or less

For the year 2023-2024, primary schools are given a pupil premium for:

• Children in Reception to Year 6 who are currently entitled to free school meals based on their family income: £1,455 per pupil, per school year

• Children in Reception to Year 6 who were previously entitled to benefits-based free school meals, even if they're no longer eligible: £1,455 per pupil, per school year, for six years after they stopped qualifying for free school meals

• Children in care: £2,530 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: £2,530 per pupil, per school year

• Children recorded as being from service families: £355 per pupil, per school year

Children who are or have been in care, and children who have a parent who is or was in the armed forces, are also entitled to receive support from pupil premium funding.

In addition, pupils who have qualified for free school meals on the above grounds in the past but are no longer eligible will continue to attract the pupil premium grant for the next six years.

All schools are responsible for recording the children who are eligible for pupil premium in their annual school census; you don't have to do anything yourself other than make sure you return any paperwork that relates to the benefits you receive or your child's entitlement to free school meals.

Please have a look at our Pupil Premium Strategy below.

Mrs Harling is always happy to offer support and advice should you have any queries.