Pupil Premium (PP) Funding
Pupil Premium (PP) funding was introduced by the government in 2011 to help improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils of all abilities. The aim is to close the attainment gap between these pupils and their peers.
Children are considered disadvantaged for a range of reasons, including:
- Those who have ever been eligible for free school meals (Ever 6 FSM)
- Children who are currently looked after (CLA) or have previously been in care
- Children whose parents serve in the armed forces (Service children)
Pupil Premium is not based on academic ability.
In Wigan, around 30% of children are identified as disadvantaged. At Hindley Junior and Infant School, 43% of our pupils (as of 2025–26) are eligible for Pupil Premium funding.
The Department for Education states that “it is up to schools to decide how the Pupil Premium funding is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.”
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) recommends that schools adopt a tiered approach to Pupil Premium spending. This approach has been shown to be effective in narrowing the attainment gap. The three key areas are:
- High-quality teaching – prioritising staff development, professional training, and support for early career teachers, as well as recruitment and retention. Improvements in these areas benefit all pupils, not just those eligible for PP.
- Targeted academic support – providing additional help for pupils who need it most.
- Wider strategies – addressing non-academic barriers to learning, such as attendance, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing.
While the main aim of the Pupil Premium is to raise academic attainment, funding can also be used to improve non-academic outcomes—for example, supporting pupils’ mental health, improving attendance, and offering enrichment opportunities that benefit all pupils.
At our school, Mrs. Kayley Best is the named Pupil Premium Governor.
All schools receiving Pupil Premium funding are required to publish a Pupil Premium Strategy, outlining how the funding is used and the impact it has.
Please see the links below for our school’s Pupil Premium Strategy.
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