Pupil Premium at our school

At our school, we are committed to ensuring that all children—regardless of their background—have the opportunity to achieve highly and thrive. The Pupil Premium is additional funding provided to help us reduce educational inequalities and support pupils who may face disadvantage. We use this funding strategically to remove barriers to learning and to ensure that eligible pupils make strong academic and personal progress.

We carefully analyse the needs of our Pupil Premium children and direct funding towards evidence-based approaches that have the greatest impact. This includes high-quality teaching, targeted academic support, enrichment opportunities, and wider pastoral provision that promotes wellbeing, confidence and engagement in school life.

Our aim is to ensure that Pupil Premium pupils experience success, feel fully included in our school community and have access to the same high-quality opportunities as all other children. We monitor outcomes closely and review our strategy each year so that our provision remains effective, ambitious and responsive to pupils’ needs.

We are proud of our commitment to equity and believe that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish.

Free School Meals

If you are a parent in receipt of any of the benefits listed below, your child is likely to be eligible for free school meals. It's quick and simple to apply online via the Together for Children Family Portal.
 

If you aren't sure if you are eligible, please contact Togethjer for Children on 0191 561 1417, or email freeschoolmeals@togetherforchildren.org.uk. 

Your child might be able to get free school meals if you receive any of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you're 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 Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit -  your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Please apply if you get any of these benefits. You would also be entitled to free school holiday sessions through Together for Children's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme Wear Here 4 You. Free school meals are only available to school aged children (Reception onwards).  
 

Change in free school meal guidance for households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

The following groups may be entitled, subject to maximum income thresholds

  • 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

Income thresholds for families with NRPF

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

Annual household income thresholds for families able to work are:

£22,700 for families with 1 child

£26,300 for families with 2 or more children

If you think you are entitled, please submit a free school meal application using the Family Portal link and complete a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) self-declaration form. 
 

Auto enrolment for Free School Meals: August 2025 process 

In Sunderland we want to make sure that every child who qualifies for free school meals gets the support they're entitled to. To make sure qualifying families get free school meals, Together for Children are automatically enrolling those who receive Housing Benefits or Council Tax Support.  However, they may not capture everyone who is eligible so if you think you have been missed please contact Together for Children.
  
   

Getting free school meals means your child enjoys a healthy lunch at school every day, helping them stay focused and ready to learn. It can also save your family around £500 a year, which you might otherwise spend on packed lunches.  

Being registered means your child can also access the free HAF holiday programme across the city. These clubs run during school holidays and include fun activities like football, cheerleading, swimming, science, performance and arts and crafts, and always include a healthy meal.  

Those families who appear to qualify for free school meals but haven't applied yet have been contacted by letter to explain how the auto enrolment works.  This will be carried out in Summer 2026 too.