Leighton Academy Pupil Premium
We aim for our Pupil Premium and other pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and academic ability and achievement to ensure they reach their potential in all aspects of their life.
Through the holistic approach we use, this will enable each to access the programmes and support from staff and other agencies to empower them to progress. The investment in training for all staff will support the continuity of experience, support their well-being and through targeted interventions they will achieve and be the best they can be.
The range of intervention and support programmes will allow all of our pupils to access specific programmes of support which will be focused on their specific areas for development.
The focus on transferable knowledge and skills will support the pupils as they progress through school and prepare them for future education, training and life. We recognise the importance of well being and equipping our pupils with the strategies, perseverance and resilience to manage life challenges and experiences. Through the multi-faceted approach we endeavour to give all our pupils positive and successful experiences.
Our strategy will combine the use of trusted, successful intervention programmes, staff training to ensure there is high quality teaching and support and access to a knowledge and vocabulary rich environment to stimulate their learning and interactions.
As part of our provision for Pupil Premium (PP) eligible pupils we implement a range of experiences, interventions and assessments to support their learning these include:
- Teacher/TA supported groups and individuals in Maths and English (including speaking and listening)
- Individual reading programmes (teacher/TA)
- Small group reading programmes using Stile
- Speech and language programmes including WELLCOMM and Speech and Language Therapy supported programmes
- Input from the Pastoral and Welfare Lead
- Specific 1:1 TA support
- Talking Partners
- Cool Kids
- Handwriting support/intervention
- Ready steady write focus groups
- Forest School
- Counselling
- Tutoring
- Accelerated reader
- Music lessons.
- Additional guided reading focus sessions
- Monkey Bob
- Mental health and well being support programmes for both pupils and families
- Access (priority ) to before and after school clubs
- Staff training to deliver intervention programmes and assessments to support learning
- Sensory rooms and staffing to support pupils emotionally.
- Access to a wide range of clubs including sports clubs from qualified coaches
Additionally we will focus on effective approaches to raising educational attainment of Pupil Premium and disadvantaged pupils through:
- developing high-quality teaching, for example through professional development and recruitment and retention
- providing targeted academic support, such as one-to-one or small group tuition
- tackling non-academic barriers to academic success, such as difficulties with attendance, behaviour and social and emotional wellbeing
Please see pupil premium information below for impact of funding.
Pupil Premium
The Pupil Premium is Government funding allocated to children from low income families who are currently known to be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) and for children who have been looked after for more than 6 months. Any pupils who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last 6 years also qualify for the Pupil Premium.
The money can be used by the school to help to provide more support to the children, to help develop children’s academic progress, their self-esteem or their social and emotional skills.
For each child registered, the school will from April 2026 will receive:
£1,550 for pupils in reception through to Year 6
£1,100 for pupils in years 7 through to 11
£2,690 for pupils who are in care or who have left local authority care through adoption/special guardianship order/child arrangements order/residence order
£360 for pupils where either parent is a serving member of the armed forces or has been in service during the child’s education
From 1 September 2026, the free school meals scheme will change. There will be 3 types of free school meals:
- universal infant free school meals
- targeted free school meals
- expanded free school meals
Who can get free school meals
Children who attend a state-funded school may be eligible for free school meals if their parent or carer receives a qualifying benefit.
Nursery-age children may also be eligible if they attend a school-based nursery or maintained nursery school. Children who attend part time must attend both before and after lunch.
If your child attends an independent or private school, private nursery or further education college, they are not eligible for free school meals.
Qualification criteria
Universal infant free school meals
Children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically receive universal infant free school meals. You do not need to apply.
Targeted free school meals
Your child may be entitled to targeted free school meals if you receive one or more of the following:
- 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 (ESA)
- the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- support through the no recourse to public funds (NRPF) scheme
Other support for children, such as the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and extra help with school travel, will be based on targeted free school meal eligibility.
Schools also receive additional funding, known as pupil premium, for children who qualify for targeted free school meals.
You must apply to receive targeted free school meals.
Expanded free school meals
Your child may be entitled to expanded free school meals if you receive Universal Credit and your annual household income is more than £7,400.
Children who qualify for expanded free school meals are not eligible for pupil premium.
You must apply to receive expanded free school meals.
Apply for free school meals
Apply through the Parent Portal. You will need to register for an account if you do not already have one.
Cheshire East free school meals portal
If you have recently become unemployed or have reduced your working hours and have been granted the four week working tax credits run on, then you may be entitled to free school meals. Please contact Cheshire East Schools Team on 0300 123 5012 for advice.
It should be noted that children who receive “education suitable for children who have not attained compulsory school age” will still need to satisfy the additional requirement of “receiving education both before and after the lunch period”, before being eligible to receive free school meals.
In order to apply for Free School Meals please do so online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/fsm or by calling
0300 123 5012.
*Please note Cheshire East no longer offer a paper version of the form.