Pupil Premium

We have high expectations for all pupils at Orchard View Primary Academy. Every child, regardless of their background or starting point, deserves the opportunity to succeed and thrive. 

In line with our motto, "Together We Learn, Together We Succeed," we are committed to ensuring that disadvantage of any kind is never a barrier to learning or achievement.

The Pupil Premium provides additional funding to help raise the attainment and inclusion of disadvantaged pupils.

At Orchard View, we use this funding to support pupils of all abilities, striving to close any gaps in achievement with their peers. We recognise that not all pupils eligible for the funding will be behind in their learning, in this instance we use the funding to support continued progress and help these pupils to reach their full potential.

Pupil Premium Strategy

OVPA Pupil Premium Strategy 2025-26

IFPT Guidance on use of Pupil Premium Grant

Eligibility Criteria

Changes to applications and eligibility

Since April 2018, the Department for Education (DfE) have provided a Transitional Protection to make sure that children would not lose their eligibility for Free School Meals when parents are transferred from other benefits to Universal Credit. The Transitional Protection will be closed by the DfE at the end of the summer term (July 2026). 

This means that all parents will need to reapply for Free School Meals (FSM) if you would like your eligibility to continue. 

There are now two categories of eligibility; Targeted and Expanded.  

Targeted Eligibility

Parents in receipt of the following benefits will be entitled to FSM for their children:

• Universal Credit and the household income is below £7400 per year, as assessed by HMRC
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Income Based Employment and Support Allowance
• Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
• Families eligible under the No Resource to Public Funds criteria (NRPF)

Children eligible through the targeted catergory will be entitled to Free School Meals; be included in funding provided to schools for the Deprivation Pupil Premium and will be eligible for Holiday Access Fund vouchers (HAF) while the scheme is provided.

The additional support would also be available for Foundation Stage, Year 1 and Year 2 children who may currently already receive a Universal Free School meal, if their parents were receiving one of the qualifying benefits and still made a claim. 

Expanded Eligibility

Parents in receipt of one of the following benefits would be entitiled to FSM under the Expanded category: 

• Universal Credit and the household income is above £7400 per year, as assessed by HMRC

Children eligible through the expanded category will be entitled to Free School Meals only. No other additional support is availabile though this category of eligibility. 

Yearly Checks

For both types of eligibility, we are now required to recheck your claim(s) every school year, as children will only be eligible for the support explained above while their parents are in reciept of one of the qualifying benefits. If you find that your circumstances change over the course of the year and you feel that your children's eligibility needs to be checked, please let us know. 

If your child moves to a new school over the course of the school year and they were eligible while attending the school, please let the new school know and they can contact us for details. 

How to apply

Please follow the link below to fill out our application form. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please speak to us.