Schools across Scotland are improving attainment and children’s
well-being by tackling the ‘cost of the school day’, the Child
Poverty Action Group has told Holyrood’s Education Committee.
In written evidence to the committee, CPAG’s Director John Dickie
said that while “preventing the attainment gap by ending child
poverty must be the primary goal… there are significant actions
that can be taken at school to reduce barriers to learning,
relieve pressure on family budgets and help relieve the
attainment gap.”
The CPAG’s evidence highlighted a range of successful work in
schools, including providing PE kits, bus passes and breakfast
clubs.
Three-quarters of school heads believe the attainment gap has
started to close and almost all expect progress in the next five
years as a result of national attainment funding, with the
Scottish Government investing £750 million over the lifetime of
this parliament.
Commenting, SNP MSP said:
“The SNP are determined to drive up standards in schools and
tackle the gap in attainment between pupils from low-income and
well-off families.
“The Scottish Government are taking a range of actions to support
family incomes – including free school meals for all P1-3s and
doubling the availability of free childcare.
“And the Scottish Government has committed to introducing an
income supplement for low-income families to tackle child poverty
at its root.
“Different schools will face different challenges, which is why
it’s so important that head teachers are given the freedom to
make these decisions for themselves.”
Notes:
Extracts from the submission by CPAG:
The 2017 Child Poverty (Scotland) Act is extremely welcome in
setting statutory targets toward the eradication of child
poverty, and creating a planning and accountability framework
that requires national and local government to set out and report
on the actions taken toward meeting those targets. It is now
vital that the Scottish Parliament ensures priority and resources
across government are directed at increasing family incomes
(through improved employment and enhanced social security) as
well as reducing the costs that families face (including
childcare and housing costs.) Preventing the attainment gap by
ending child poverty must be the primary goal. However, there are
significant actions that can be taken at school to reduce
barriers to learning, relieve pressure on family budgets and help
reduce the attainment gap.
Ensuring participation and access to learning
- A Falkirk Primary School spent PEF money on a supply of
clothes which led to “improved self-esteem and engagement in
learning. One pupil is now taking a full part in PE due to having
an appropriate and fitting gym kit.”
- A Dumfries and Galloway Secondary ensures access to the
curriculum by offsetting Home Economics, Technical, Art, and PE
costs: “Pupils do not avoid subjects as a result of curriculum
costs. They are able to participate in all subjects without fear
of extra costs.”
- One Glasgow Secondary school in Glasgow says that the
provision of resources to access the curriculum has led to
“improved attainment and attendance for some vulnerable
children.”
- A Moray Primary agrees that resource provision means “more
children can take part and respond in class without stigma of
having to say they didn't have a necessary resource that the
others would take for granted.”
- In a Glasgow Secondary, providing bus passes and lunch money
led to increased attendance at an Easter revision programme by
young people previously unlikely to attend.
- Breakfast club and free snacks in an Edinburgh Primary mean
that “Children are able to concentrate better once they have
eaten breakfast and their snack, thus having a positive impact on
their attainment.”
- ‘Donation’ only trips in a North Lanarkshire Primary mean
that “children turn up on the trip rather than being kept off due
to parental embarrassment at inability to pay for a trip.”
Enhancing wellbeing
- One Primary School in the Scottish Borders discretely gives
out uniform and gym kit where necessary. “Children who have been
given clothing immediately look happier and more settled. One
child had been lying about why he was not wearing his uniform. He
was embarrassed and his behaviour was disruptive. When given a
change of clothing and items to take home his mood immediately
improved. He was smiling and his confidence and self-esteem
improved.”
- A North Lanarkshire primary makes sure that fun events are
free – as a result there is “an inclusive ethos where pupils feel
valued.”
- A West Dunbartonshire Primary’s preloved clothing bank
“reduces any potential bullying… we have encouraged a 'no shame'
approach and many parents and children access these clothes.”
