Pupil Premium in The Southwater Infant Academy 2026/27

At The Southwater Infant Academy all of our children are eligible for Universal Infant Free School Meals. However, the Government also provides additional funding to schools to help all children do their best. This funding is called 'Pupil Premium Funding'.

This additional funding is specifically designed to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. It allows us to provide an even better education for your child through the purchase of additional resources or staff to support learning across the academy.

Pupil Premium funding is available for all children known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) either currently or within the last 6 years (Ever 6), children from service families (SC) and for those who are looked after (LAC).

Who is eligible?

We will be able to claim valuable 'pupil premium funding' if you are in receipt of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support from National Asylum Support Service (NASS) under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit "Run-on" – (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for WTC)
• Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Please note: From September 2026, free school meals eligibility will be extended to all households receiving Universal Credit. However, pupil premium eligibility will continue to be based on the current criteria listed above (households receiving Universal Credit with a yearly income of less than £7,400).

How the funding is used

The pupil premium must be used to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.Spending the pupil premium (The Key Leaders) Examples of how we use this funding include:

• Providing uniform for your child
• Paying for school trips
• Providing extra support with learning in school
• Paying for some after school clubs
• Supporting pupils' social, emotional and wellbeing needs
• Providing targeted academic interventions

For full details of how we plan to use our pupil premium funding, please see our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2026/27 below.

How to apply

Registration is strictly confidential and this does not affect any other benefits you may already be claiming.

Please find an application form here or telephone West Sussex County Council on 0330 222 5555 or email fsm@westsussex.gov.uk.

Applications can be made at any time during the year. However, if you are eligible for Pupil Premium, please apply as soon as possible so we can claim the funding to support your child.

Alternatively you can come in and speak to an academy staff member in confidence at any time.