Free School Meals/Pupil Premium/Sport Premium
Free School Meals
Free school meals are available to families who are in receipt of at least one of the following benefits:-
- Income support
- Employment and Support Allowance – income related only
Income based Job Seekers Allowance (NOT Contribution Based JSA) - Child Tax Credit only (with a combined family income of less than £16,190 per annum as assessed by HM Revenues and Customs) as at April 2017. Anyone receiving Working Tax Credit, regardless of Income, will not qualify for free school meals.
- National Asylum Seekers Support
- Guaranteed Element of Pension Tax Credit
The process of application and school arrangements are entirely confidential. Middleton’s office staff will be happy to help with the application process or parent/carers can call the Milton Keynes Council Free School Meals Team on 01908 253338.
All children at Middleton Primary School who are eligible for free school meals will also receive a free school sweatshirt or cardigan and two free school polo shirts per academic year.
For any questions regarding free school meals, please do not hesitate to speak to a member of the office staff.
Alternatively, you can register on Milton Keynes Council's Citizen Portal
Pupil Premium Rationale
Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to benefit pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years. Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after (have been in the care of the local authority) continuously for more than six months and children of service personnel.
Why was Pupil Premium Funding Introduced?
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium Funding, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals and their peers.
Who Decides How Pupil Premium Funding is Spent?
In most cases Pupil Premium is paid directly to schools, allocated to them for every pupil who receives free school meals, is looked after or whose parent is in one of the services. Schools decide how to use the funding, as they are best placed to assess what pupils need.
How are Schools Accountable for the Spending of Pupil Premium Funding?
Middleton is held accountable for the decisions it makes through:
- The performance tables that show the attainment and progress of Pupil Premium, FSM and LAC children compared with that of their peers
- The new Ofsted inspection framework, under which the inspectors focus on the attainment and progress of various pupil groups, including those who are eligible for Pupil Premium
What Barriers to Educational Achievement can Disadvantaged Children at Middleton Primary School Face?
Disadvantaged pupils may face all sorts of difficulties, which make it harder for them to achieve at school. These obviously vary widely according to each individual but may include:
- Poor attendance
- Specific behavioural issues
- Limited social skills
- Poor basic literacy and numeracy skills
- Unsettled home lives
- Lack of parental income to access optional extra-curricular activities
- Lack of parental support and involvement in their education
- Previous negative family experiences of education
- Health issues within the family
- Responsibility as a young carer
- Low self-esteem
- Poor organisational skills
- Lack of equipment or uniform
- Issues with poor hygiene
- Temporary housing
Current Academic Year 2024-2025
The pupil premium for the current year is being spent in a number of ways including;
- Small group teaching
- TA support
- TA interventions
- Sensory room
- Play therapist
- Puzzle Club – to develop social skills and integration
- Subsidies for school trips / uniform / music lessons / extra curricular activities
The report below relates to pupil premium allocations and expenditure.
Pupil Premium Reports
Middleton Primary School Pupil Premium Statement 2025-26
PE and Sport Grant funding, which is in addition to main school funding, is allocated by the Department for Education to improve the quality of PE and sporting activities offered to pupils.
Academic Year 2024-2025
The main object of sport premium allocation is to improve the standard of teaching in PE lessons.
- CPD PE co-ordinator training.
- CPD training for all teachers in progression of skills and core teaching points.
- CPD NQT training.
- HQ PE lessons delivered by PE specialist with CPD support for year groups.
- Upgrade the sporting facilities around the school to provide a world-class environment.
- Use PE and sport as a tool to teach learning behaviours such as resilience, communication and self-organisation.
- After school clubs actively engaging children from across the school.
- Provide equipment for all class/year group bubbles to facilitate active lunch times.
- Sports competitions involving a wide variety of children across school.
- Provide extracurricular activity to children who are not engaging in sport/activity within school.
The reports below relate to PE and Sports Funding allocations and expenditure.
