Pupil Premium at Wheelock Primary School

Helping every child to aspire, achieve and thrive.

At Wheelock Primary School, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Our school values of Aspire, Respect and Responsibility underpin our commitment to ensuring that all children feel supported, valued and included.

Pupil Premium funding enables us to provide additional support, remove barriers to learning and ensure that disadvantaged pupils have the same opportunities to achieve, participate and flourish as their peers.

What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the government to state-funded schools to improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged children.

Schools receive funding based on the number of pupils who meet specific eligibility criteria, including:

• Children who are currently eligible for qualifying Free School Meals or have been eligible at any point during the previous six years.

• Children who are currently looked after by a local authority.

• Children who were previously looked after, including those adopted from care or who left care under certain legal orders.

• Children from eligible armed forces families, who may attract Service Pupil Premium funding.

Pupil Premium funding is paid to schools rather than directly to families. It is not an individual allowance for each child. Schools are responsible for deciding how best to use the funding to improve educational outcomes and remove barriers to learning.

Pupil Premium Funding for 2026–2027

The Department for Education has confirmed the following funding rates for the 2026–2027 financial year:

Eligibility	Annual funding
Primary pupils eligible for Free School Meals (Ever 6)	£1,550
Previously looked-after children	£2,690
Looked-after children	£2,690
Eligible service children	£360

 

Funding for looked-after children is allocated to the local authority and managed through the Virtual School.

Schools use Pupil Premium funding strategically, taking account of the individual needs of pupils and the wider priorities of the school.

How Do We Use Pupil Premium Funding?

At Wheelock Primary School, we carefully plan how funding is used to have the greatest impact on children's learning, wellbeing and wider school experiences.

Our funding is allocated across three key areas.

1. High-Quality Teaching

We invest in high-quality teaching to ensure all children receive the best possible education.

This includes:

• Staff training and professional development.

• High-quality teaching resources and classroom adaptations.

• Assessment tools to identify gaps in learning.

• Improving the teaching of reading, writing and mathematics.

• Ensuring children with additional needs can access the curriculum successfully.

2. Targeted Academic Support

Some children benefit from additional support to help them achieve their full potential.

We provide:

• Individual and small-group interventions.

• Additional phonics, reading, writing and mathematics support.

• Speech, language and communication interventions.

• Targeted teaching based on assessment information.

• Additional resources and adaptations for children with identified learning needs.

3. Wider Strategies and Wellbeing

We recognise that children learn best when they feel happy, safe and supported.

Our wider provision includes:

• Emotional wellbeing and pastoral support.

• ELSA, MELSA and Treetops interventions.

• Support with attendance and positive morning transitions, including targeted access to Rise and Shine Morning Club.

• Opportunities to take part in extracurricular clubs and enrichment activities.

• Strong partnerships with parents and carers.

• Identifying and reducing barriers that may prevent children from fully participating in school life.

Our Pupil Champions – Every Child Has Someone Championing Them

New for 2026–2027

At Wheelock, we are strengthening our commitment to supporting disadvantaged pupils through our Pupil Champions approach.

Identified Pupil Premium children are allocated a designated member of staff who takes a particular interest in their school experience, progress and wellbeing.

Our Pupil Champions:

• Build positive, trusting relationships with their allocated children.

• Meet with children for a dedicated check-in at least once each term.

• Listen to children's views, worries and achievements.

• Identify barriers to learning, attendance or participation.

• Celebrate successes and encourage children to aspire.

• Communicate any concerns or additional support needs to relevant staff.

• Ensure children know they have a trusted adult who will listen and advocate for them.

These conversations help us understand what matters to each child and how we can support them most effectively.

Every child deserves to feel seen, heard and championed.

What We Offer

Early access to extracurricular clubs

Pupil Premium families receive early access to club offers each half term, providing additional opportunities to secure places in popular activities.

Personal invitations and encouragement

Staff may contact parents through emails or telephone calls to encourage children to join clubs, particularly where they have not previously participated.

Monitoring participation

We regularly monitor club attendance to identify children who may be missing out on extracurricular opportunities and take action to encourage greater involvement.

Listening to children's views

We gather pupil voice to understand which clubs and activities children would like to attend and use this information to inform our enrichment offer.

A wide range of opportunities

Our clubs include sports, creative activities, dance, art, academic support and other enrichment experiences.

Early access to parents' evening appointments

Pupil Premium families are offered early access to parents' evening appointment bookings to support positive communication and engagement between home and school.

Our aim is to ensure that financial circumstances or other barriers do not prevent children from accessing opportunities that help them develop confidence, friendships, new interests and talents.

School Trips and Educational Visits

Pupil Premium funding is allocated strategically to support educational outcomes across the school. It is not provided as an individual allowance or automatic discount for every trip.

We do not currently offer a standard Pupil Premium discount on day trips.

Where visits take place during school hours and voluntary contributions are requested, no child will be excluded because their family is unable or unwilling to contribute.

We encourage any family experiencing financial difficulties to contact the school office confidentially so that we can discuss their circumstances and any available support.

Additional Family Support

Depending on individual circumstances and identified needs, we may also be able to provide or signpost families to support with:

• Access to school clubs and enrichment opportunities.

• Resources needed to participate fully in school life.

• Attendance and morning routines.

• Pastoral and emotional wellbeing support.

• Information about local financial assistance and family support services.

All requests are treated sensitively and confidentially.

Free School Meals – Important Changes from September 2026

From September 2026, the government has expanded eligibility for Free School Meals to include children from households receiving Universal Credit.

There are now three types of Free School Meals available in Cheshire East.

Universal Infant Free School Meals

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically receive a free school meal, regardless of household income.

However, families who meet the criteria for Targeted Free School Meals should still apply, even if their child already receives a free meal. This can help the school receive additional Pupil Premium funding.

Targeted Free School Meals

Children may qualify if their family meets the relevant benefits criteria, including Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less.

Other qualifying circumstances include certain income-related benefits, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and eligible immigration-related support.

Children eligible for Targeted Free School Meals may also attract Pupil Premium funding and qualify for other support.

Expanded Free School Meals

From September 2026, children whose families receive Universal Credit but have earnings above the £7,400 threshold may also qualify for free school meals.

Important: Expanded Free School Meals provide entitlement to meals but do not, by themselves, provide additional Pupil Premium funding or the other benefits linked specifically to Targeted Free School Meals.

Families must apply for Targeted or Expanded Free School Meals through Cheshire East Council.

How to Apply for Free School Meals

Applying is straightforward and could make a significant difference to your child's school experience.

Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and already receives a free school meal, we strongly encourage eligible families to register for Targeted Free School Meals.

Apply online:
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schools/school-meals/free_school_meals.aspx

Telephone: 0300 123 5012

Email: freeschoolmeals@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Alternatively, please contact the school office, where staff will be happy to offer guidance.

Working Together to Help Every Child Succeed

At Wheelock Primary School, Pupil Premium is about much more than additional academic support.

It is about ensuring every child feels valued, has opportunities to develop their talents, receives support when they need it and can achieve their full potential.

Through our Pupil Champions, targeted teaching, pastoral support, family partnerships and enrichment opportunities, we aim to make a positive and lasting difference to children's experiences and outcomes.

Aspire. Respect. Responsibility.

Our Pupil Premium Strategy and Reports

We publish our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement to explain:

• The barriers to learning identified within our school.

• How funding is allocated and spent.

• The intended outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

• How we evaluate the impact of our provision.

Please see the Pupil Premium Strategy Statement and supporting documents at the bottom of this page for further information.

If you have any questions about Pupil Premium, Free School Meals or support available for your child, please contact the school office.