Adoption & kinship toolkit · free

Pupil Premium Plus: letters for school

Schools in England can receive extra funding, called Pupil Premium Plus, for children who left care through adoption, special guardianship or a child arrangements order. Here's how to make sure it's claimed and well used.

General information for families in England, not legal or financial advice. Rules, rates and local policies change, so always check with your council, Regional Adoption Agency or GOV.UK. Adoption UK, Kinship and your local adoption support service can also help, for free.

How it works

The school receives the funding, not the family. It's paid per eligible pupil each year at a set national rate.

Pupil Premium Plus rates

2026 to 2027: £2,690 per eligible pupil, primary and secondary alike (current rate)
2025 to 2026: £2,630 per eligible pupil

Rates run with the financial year (April to March) and are paid to the school, not to you. Source: Department for Education pupil premium allocations; always check GOV.UK for the latest figure. Figures last checked: November 2026.

The school only gets it if your child is recorded as previously looked-after on the school census, which usually means you tell the school and show evidence.
Every school must have a designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children, who should work with you on how support is planned.
Schools decide how to spend it, but it should be used to support the educational needs of previously looked-after children.

Your local Virtual School can also give advice and information about previously looked-after children.

Letter 1: tell the school

Tell the school your child is eligible for Pupil Premium Plus

Schools only get Pupil Premium Plus for a previously looked-after child if they know and record it on the school census.

Your name

Your address

Child's name

School name

Year group

Order

Nothing you type here is sent or saved. Anything in [brackets] still needs filling in.

Letter 2: agree how it's used

Ask how Pupil Premium Plus is supporting your child

A friendly request to meet and agree how the funding will be used for your child's needs.

Your name

Your address

Child's name

School name

Your child's main needs at school

Support you'd like to discuss (optional)

Nothing you type here is sent or saved. Anything in [brackets] still needs filling in.

Optional support for you, the parent

Running on empty? You don't have to carry it alone.

Hilary Jones is an integrative psychotherapist supporting adoptive parents. Online, or walk-and-talk sessions around Sheffield. She offers a free 30-minute taster session, with no commitment, to see if she's the right fit.

Book a free taster session

SEND Compass is independent. Hilary is an external practitioner and her own terms apply. We may receive an introductory fee if you book with her, at no extra cost to you. Nothing you've typed here is shared with her. Therapy for your child may be fundable through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, so ask your Regional Adoption Agency.