Weston Village Primary SchoolPupil Premium, Priority Learners and Free School Meals
Supporting Every Child to Be the Best They Can Be
At Weston Village Primary School, we want every child to achieve well, feel that they belong and have full access to the opportunities school provides.
Pupil Premium is additional funding provided to schools to improve educational outcomes for eligible pupils. It can help us remove barriers to learning, attendance, wellbeing and participation and ensure that children receive the support they need to thrive.
We know that family circumstances can change. If you think your child may be eligible for Free School Meals or you need support with any aspect of school life, please speak to us. Our aim is always to help families sensitively and without judgement.
Pupil Premium and Priority Learners
Across The Cornovii Trust, we use the term Priority Learners. This helps us focus on pupils as individuals rather than defining them by a funding category.
Priority Learners include pupils receiving Pupil Premium, looked-after and previously looked-after children and pupils known to social care. Not every Priority Learner attracts Pupil Premium funding; the term reflects our wider commitment to identifying barriers and providing equitable support.
Our approach is based on some simple principles:
Know pupils well – we use assessment, attendance information and conversations with children and families to understand individual strengths, needs and aspirations.
High-quality teaching comes first – strong, inclusive classroom teaching is the most important way we improve outcomes.
Identify the barrier, not the label – Pupil Premium eligibility does not mean that every child needs the same support.
Equity matters – some children need additional or different support to have the same opportunity to succeed.
Belonging and participation matter – we want Priority Learners to be fully represented in lessons, clubs, visits, leadership opportunities and the wider life of the school.
We check what is working – support is reviewed and adapted where necessary rather than simply continuing because it has been put in place.
This reflects The Cornovii Trust Priority Learners Framework, which places high expectations, equity, belonging and proportional representation at the heart of its approach.
How We Use Pupil Premium at Weston
Pupil Premium is not a separate programme or a fixed amount of support allocated to an individual child. We use the funding strategically to address the barriers experienced by our pupils.
Depending on need, this may include:
strengthening high-quality teaching and inclusive classroom practice
targeted academic teaching or intervention
support with communication, SEND or access to learning
attendance, reintegration and family support
pastoral, wellbeing or trusted-adult support
removing practical or financial barriers to school life
ensuring access to clubs, visits, residentials, music, sport and other wider opportunities.
Our 2026–27 Pupil Premium Strategy places particular emphasis on high-quality teaching, writing, inclusive provision, attendance and access and ensuring equitable participation in the wider life of the school.
Our current strategy statement provides full details of our identified priorities, planned spending, monitoring and evaluation
Free School Meals – Important Changes from September 2026
From 1 September 2026, Free School Meals arrangements changed nationally. In Cheshire East there are now three types of Free School Meal entitlement: Universal Infant Free School Meals, Targeted Free School Meals and Expanded Free School Meals.
1. Universal Infant Free School Meals
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are automatically entitled to a free school meal.
You do not need to apply for Universal Infant Free School Meals.
However, if you meet the criteria for Targeted Free School Meals, it is still very important that you apply. This is because Targeted FSM eligibility can also attract Pupil Premium funding for the school.
2. Targeted Free School Meals
Your child may be eligible for Targeted Free School Meals if your household receives:
Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
the guarantee element of Pension Credit
qualifying support under the No Recourse to Public Funds scheme.
Families must apply for Targeted Free School Meals.
Targeted FSM is particularly important because eligible pupils can also attract Pupil Premium and other disadvantage-related support. Some other schemes, including the Holiday Activities and Food programme and certain school-travel support, also remain linked to Targeted FSM eligibility.
3. Expanded Free School Meals
From September 2026, children in all households receiving Universal Credit can qualify for a free school meal, regardless of household earnings.
Where annual household earnings are above £7,400, this is known as Expanded Free School Meals.
Families must still apply to receive Expanded FSM. Children in this category receive the free meal, but Expanded FSM does not itself attract Pupil Premium funding.
Why Should I Apply?
Please apply if you think you may be eligible even if:
your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and already receives a free infant meal
your child usually chooses a packed lunch
you are unsure whether you fall into the Targeted or Expanded category.
Applying ensures that your child receives any entitlement available to them and, where they qualify for Targeted FSM, can also help the school receive additional funding to support their education. The Government has confirmed that, following the 2026 expansion, only Targeted FSM counts towards the FSM Ever 6 cohort used for Pupil Premium funding.
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds
Children in families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) may also qualify.
For families outside London, the current national income thresholds are:
£22,700 for a family with one child
£26,300 for a family with two or more children.
Families must also have no more than £16,000 in capital and savings.
Cheshire East asks families who think they may qualify through the NRPF route to contact freeschoolmeals@cheshireeast.gov.uk for an application form.
How to Apply
Applications for both Targeted and Expanded Free School Meals are made through the Cheshire East Parent Portal.
Apply for Free School Meals – Cheshire East Council
You can also contact Cheshire East Free School Meals on 0300 123 5012 or email freeschoolmeals@cheshireeast.gov.uk.
Free School Meals begin from the date Cheshire East confirms eligibility. They cannot be backdated to cover unpaid meal charges or meals already purchased.
Need Some Help?
If you are unsure whether you may qualify, or would like some help with an application, please contact the school office or speak to:
Mr Cutts – Headteacher and Pupil Premium Lead
Mrs Loveland – Pastoral Lead and SENDCo
We are always happy to help.