Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the Government to help schools improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

At Manuden Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to achieve well, participate fully in school life and develop the knowledge, confidence and skills they need for the future.

We use Pupil Premium funding carefully, based on the individual and collective needs of our pupils and on evidence about approaches that are most likely to improve outcomes.

Who is eligible for Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium funding may be provided for children who are currently eligible for income-related Free School Meals, or who have been eligible at any point during the previous six years, as well as children who are looked after or who were previously looked after.

Separate Service Pupil Premium funding is also available for eligible children from service families. This funding is primarily intended to support their pastoral needs.

Eligibility for Pupil Premium does not mean that funding is allocated as an individual budget for a particular child. Schools are able to use the funding to address identified barriers to learning and improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

How We Use Pupil Premium

Our approach is informed by Department for Education guidance and educational research.

We consider provision across three broad areas:

• High-quality teaching – including effective classroom teaching, assessment, curriculum provision, staff development and resources that improve teaching and learning.
• Targeted academic support – including appropriate one-to-one or small-group tuition, phonics, reading, writing and mathematics interventions and additional support for pupils with identified needs.
• Wider strategies – including support for attendance, social and emotional needs, enrichment opportunities, educational visits, extracurricular activities, breakfast or wraparound provision and work with families where these address barriers to pupils' education.

The precise use of funding will vary according to the needs of pupils at Manuden. We regularly review pupils' attainment, progress, attendance, wellbeing and participation so that support can be adjusted where necessary.

Pupil Premium may also support approaches that benefit other pupils with similar identified needs, where this is consistent with Department for Education funding requirements.

Our Priorities

At Manuden, our overarching aim is to reduce barriers that may prevent disadvantaged pupils from achieving their potential.

Our priorities include securing strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics; providing high-quality teaching for all pupils; identifying gaps in learning early; supporting attendance and wellbeing; ensuring pupils can participate fully in enrichment and wider school life; and providing appropriate support for pupils with additional needs.

These priorities are reviewed as part of the school's wider improvement planning and pupil-progress processes.

Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

Some families may be entitled to income-related Free School Meals.

Registering an eligible child can also enable the school to receive Pupil Premium funding to support educational provision.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 may receive a free school meal through Universal Infant Free School Meals, but this is different from income-related Free School Meal eligibility.

We therefore encourage families who think they may qualify to check their eligibility, even if their child already receives a free infant meal.

Applications are confidential.

Check eligibility and apply for Free School Meals – Essex County Council

Alternatively, please contact the School Office if you would like advice or support.

Email: office@manuden.essex.sch.uk
Telephone: 01279 813370

Pupil Premium Strategy 2026–27

Manuden Primary School’s Pupil Premium allocation for 2026–27 is based on five or fewer eligible pupils.

In accordance with the Department for Education’s Pupil Premium conditions of grant, the school is therefore not required to publish a separate Pupil Premium Strategy Statement for 2026–27.

The school nevertheless maintains clear internal records of how Pupil Premium funding is used and monitors the impact of its provision on disadvantaged pupils. The Headteacher and Governing Body oversee the use of the funding and review its effectiveness as part of the school’s wider monitoring and improvement processes.

Because Manuden is a small school, we do not publish information that could identify individual pupils or allow conclusions to be drawn about individual children.

Further Information

Further information about Pupil Premium funding and how schools are expected to use it is available from the Department for Education.

Department for Education – Pupil Premium