Pupil premium
Pupil Premium was introduced to help reduce the inequalities in attainment between Free School Meals (FSM) pupils and non FSM pupils and to improve the educational opportunities of disadvantaged children. At Sunshine we have worked hard to reduce this gap by using the funding in a variety of ways.
Is your child eligible?
Schools receive Pupil Premium funding from the Department for Education to support eligible disadvantaged pupils and help improve their educational outcomes.
For the 2026–2027 financial year, schools receive Pupil Premium funding for eligible pupils at the following rates:
- Pupils in Reception to Year 6 who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) Ever 6: £1,550 per pupil.
- Looked-after children (LAC) and previously looked-after children (PLAC): £2,690 per eligible pupil.
- Service children: £360 per eligible pupil.
Free School Meals – Ever 6
If a pupil has been eligible for Free School Meals at any point during the previous six years, they continue to attract Pupil Premium funding under the FSM Ever 6 criteria, even if they are no longer eligible for Free School Meals.
It is therefore important that parents and carers who think their child may be eligible for Free School Meals apply through their local authority. This can help ensure that the school receives the appropriate Pupil Premium funding to support eligible pupils.
For further information about eligibility and how to apply for Free School Meals, please contact the school or visit the relevant local authority website.
How is it spent?
Schools can choose how to spend their pupil premium money, as they are best placed to identify what would be of most benefit to the children who are eligible.
Please view the following documents below: PP Funding Document and Impact data
Our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement for 2026–2027 is currently being prepared and will be published on this page by 31 December 2026, in accordance with Department for Education requirements.
document awaiting publication
In the meantime, our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement for 2025–2026 is available below for information and reference.
Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2025-2026
Review
The Pupil Premium Strategy is reviewed annually to ensure that it continues to reflect the needs of disadvantaged pupils and the priorities of the academy.
The impact of the strategy and the use of Pupil Premium funding are monitored throughout the academic year, with adjustments made where necessary to ensure that funding is used effectively to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
The strategy is formally reviewed and updated annually, taking into account the impact and outcomes from the previous academic year. An updated Pupil Premium Strategy Statement is published on the academy website by 31 December each year, in accordance with Department for Education requirements.
The performance and outcomes data for the previous academic year are reported within the Pupil Premium Strategy Statement.