Living in poverty affects children’s health, wellbeing and learning. Families face increased levels of stress and worry, and cost pressures can mean children are unable to take part in every aspect of school life.
This toolkit sets out clear steps to help schools reduce financial barriers and achieve greater equity. It’s flexible and you can dip in as needed throughout the school year. You’ll find background information, surveys, audit tools, action plans, case studies and practice ideas to support your work.
Cost of the School Day is an ongoing process that works best when it’s part of school improvement planning, and is revisited regularly. Circumstances change, and checking back on the needs of families in your school community at regular intervals helps you see what works well in your setting , and where new action is needed.
Facts and figures to help support your approach.
Raise awareness of child poverty, and set up a working group of staff, families and pupils.
Talk with pupils, families and staff to identify the cost barriers across the school day.
Review what you've heard, agree priorities and develop an action plan.
Test solutions, communicate clearly what you are doing and why, and build inclusive practices.
Measure progress, make changes as needed, and keep communicating with your school community.
Information about funding sources.
This toolkit supports schools, local authorities and their partners to identify and reduce financial barriers. As one young person put it:
"Education is free but a lot of school things are not.”
Member of the Children’s Parliament, age 11
At the heart of this work is listening to children, parents and staff. They know which costs make school harder and what changes would help. Families with first-hand experience of poverty can offer insights and solutions, helping shape the right way forward.
“Something as simple as the wording of an email that acknowledges how many families will be struggling, written in a way that is respectful, has been reassuring and supportive: I feel less alone and less embarrassed about financial worries.”
Parent
The Cost of the School Day Toolkit helps schools work with children, parents, carers and staff to understand the cost barriers families face, and to take action together.
By using it you can:
This toolkit contains tried and tested resources, which can support your school to identify barriers, plan solutions and make positive changes for children and young people.
Reducing costs doesn’t always mean spending money – often it’s about doing things differently. Small changes, suggested by children, young people and parents, can make a big difference and support equity for children and families.
“It’s part of everything we do here really. What we try to do is make sure that there’s absolutely no barriers to children having the broadest experience at school. For a lot of our families, the stigma is gone.”
Head Teacher, Rosebank Primary School, Dundee
Taking a Cost of the School Day approach can mean children and young people feel more supported and ready to learn:
“I think it’s good because you don’t want anyone left out.”
Child, P4, South Lanarkshire
An independent evaluation of Cost of the School Day found that:
Across Scotland, too many families are struggling on low incomes. We must support all of our children to fully take part in school life.
“The impact is a more inclusive, happier school community… Our pupils, staff and parents notice a more relaxed atmosphere when the financial pressure is taken away.”
Head Teacher, Seafield Primary School, Moray
