The Pupil Premium is additional funding to help narrow the attainment gap between them and their non-disadvantaged peers. The funding is allocated to schools based on the number of:

• Students in receipt of free school meals at any point in the last 6 years (Ever 6 FSM)

• Looked After Children (LAC), adopted or special guardianship

• Students who have left care through adoption or another formal route such as a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangement Order

• Service children

This money is used to help disadvantaged pupils overcome any barriers to their learning and to ensure they reach their full potential.

As a school, we avoid stereotyping our pupils who qualify for Pupil Premium funding, and recognise that they are a diverse group who face different barriers, or even none at all.  However, some of our disadvantaged pupils experience:

• Lower attainment than their non-disadvantaged peers at key stages 1 and 2,

• Less than expected progress in some subjects in Years 8, 9 and 10,

• Lower attendance rates in the primary sector,

• Lack of family finances, resulting in an inability to support the individual’s talents and skills,

• Low aspirations,

• A selective system which filters a larger proportion of FSM students to non-selective schools,

• Less support at home for self-study,

• No quiet places at home to study,

• Less developed oracy skills, particularly in formal situations,

• A lack of revision material for Year 10 and Year 11 pupils,

• Limited access to books, ICT and resources to support out of school learning.

At Westlands, we regularly track pupils; data to identify any evidence of underachievement, (not just low attaining students), and respond to pupils; individual needs rapidly.; We aim to make creative, evidence-based decisions that are adapted throughout the academic year, and which include a wide range of interventions.

To apply for free school meals, parents must have one or more children aged four or over attending a local authority maintained school in Kent or be eligible as a household with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) subject to maximum income funds.

Parents who have one or more children aged four or over attending local authority maintained school in Kent and be in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• 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)

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance

• Income-related Employment Support Allowance

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

• Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs, that does not exceed £16,190

• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

Visit Kent County Council FSM page where you can find out more about claiming your entitlement.

Free school meal eligibility to children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds, has now been permanently extended.

These groups include, but may not be limited to children of:

• Zambrano carers

• Families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

• Families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction

• A subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Chen carers

• Families holding a BN(O) passport

• Spousal visa holders

• Work visa holders

• Student visa holders

• Those with no immigration status

The maximum income threshold differs based on your location and the number of children that your family has.

Income thresholds

Under the permanent extension of free school meal eligibility to all NRPF groups, the annual household income thresholds for those families able to work are:

• £22,700 for families outside of London with 1 child

• £26,300 for families outside of London with 2 or more children

• £31,200 for families within London with 1 child

• £34,800 for families within London with 2 or more children

Whether or not a person will be considered within the London or the outside London threshold will be determined by the address of the family.

To find out more information about how families can demonstrate NRPF status please visit the GOV.UK website. 

 

Number of pupils in school	1789
Proportion (%) of Pupil Premium eligible pupils	23% (Year 7 - 11)

 

Visit Kent County Council FSM page where you can find out more about claiming your entitlement.

If you believe your family are eligible to a FSM due to no recourse to public funds (NRPGF) please complete this application form which then must be submitted to our main school office.

Travel passes for school pupils and school transport

Visit Kent County Council School transport page where you can find out more about school transport.