Sonar Tracker: How do I track pupils with Targetted / Expanded FSM?

Sonar Tracker

Overview

This article explains how to use filters to track pupils with the DfEs new Targeted, Expanded and Other Free School Meals (FSM) categories in Sonar Tracker, using the Pupil Premium and FSM filters together.

  • The Department for Education has changed FSM eligibility from the 2026 to 2027 academic year:
    1. Targeted FSM. This is the existing income-based entitlement. It covers pupils in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less. Targeted FSM counts towards Pupil Premium and Ever 6 funding.
    2. Expanded FSM. This is a new category from the DfE. It covers pupils who do not meet the Targeted threshold but whose households still receive Universal Credit. Expanded FSM is a meals-only entitlement and does not count towards Pupil Premium or Ever 6.
    3. Other FSM. This records locally funded free meals outside the Targeted and Expanded criteria, for example a scheme funded by your local authority. Other FSM does not count towards Pupil Premium or Ever 6.

Sonar Tracker has one FSM filter that can be combined with the Pupil Premium filter to distinguish between the  categories:

Pupils you want to see Pupil Premium filter FSM filter
Targeted FSM Include Include
Expanded FSM (and Other FSM) Exclude Include

We are in the process of changing the look and feel of filters in Sonar Tracker. Whilst the filters work in the same way, they look a little different, so this article covers both versions.

The following buttons are used to access the filters:

Filter button Filter version
mceclip0.png Original filters
mceclip1.png Original filters (where filters have been set)
New filters

Instructions

Select a tab to find out how to track these pupils with each version of the filters:

  • Track Targeted FSM pupils

    Filter on both FSM and Pupil Premium to show Targeted FSM pupils. Follow these steps to track them:

    1. Open the report or page that shows your pupils.
    2. Select Filters. If filters are already set, select Active Filters instead. The Pupil Filters pane appears.

    3. Under Focus filters:

      1. Toggle Pupil Premium to include these pupils.
      2. Toggle FSM to include these pupils.
      3. Select Apply Filters.

    Track Expanded FSM (and Other FSM) pupils

    Filter on FSM but not Pupil Premium to show Expanded FSM (and Other FSM) pupils. Follow these steps to track them:

    1. Open the report or page that shows your pupils.
    2. Select Filters. If filters are already set, select Active Filter instead. The Pupil Filters pane appears.

    3. Under Focus filters:

      1. Toggle FSM to include these pupils.
      2. Toggle Pupil Premium to exclude these pupils.
      3. Select Apply Filters.

    This view shows Expanded FSM and Other FSM pupils together. Currently, you can't separate them in Sonar Tracker.

  • Track Targeted FSM pupils

    Filter on both FSM and Pupil Premium to show Targeted FSM pupils. Follow these steps to track them:

    1. Open the report or page that shows your pupils.
    2. Select Filters. The Filters slide-out appears on the right of the page.
    3. Select Characteristics.

    4. Under Focus:

      1. Toggle Pupil Premium to include these pupils.
      2. Toggle FSM to include these pupils.
      3. Select Save.

    Track Expanded FSM (and Other FSM) pupils

    Filter on FSM but not Pupil Premium to show Expanded FSM (and Other FSM) pupils. Follow these steps to track them:

    1. Open the report or page that shows your pupils.
    2. Select Filters. The Filters slide-out appears on the right of the page.
    3. Select Characteristics.

    4. Under Focus:

      1. Toggle Pupil Premium to exclude these pupils.
      2. Toggle FSM to include these pupils.
      3. Select Save.

    This view shows Expanded FSM and Other FSM pupils together. Currently, you can't separate them in Sonar Tracker.

Outcome

The pupil list shows only the pupils that match your filters. The number of pupils in the filtered list appears after you select the filters.

  1. With Pupil Premium and FSM both included, the list shows Targeted FSM pupils.
  2. With FSM included and Pupil Premium excluded, the list shows Expanded FSM and Other FSM pupils.

Related information

Updated