By now, as a school community, you know where costs create problems and have ideas for possible solutions. This is the step where you put changes in place.
In step four it's important to:
Share what you are doing. Clear communication helps families understand and benefit from the changes, and makes your work more successful.
Schools and local authorities are reducing cost barriers for children and young people. This means that there is a wealth of experience and ideas to draw on, providing practice examples that can be adapted for your own school community.
Cost of the School Day action in schools makes a real difference. When local authorities take a lead, schools benefit from stronger support to make these changes.
Independent evaluation of Cost of the School Day shows that success at local authority level is supported by:
Cost of the School Day work is taking place all over the country - you can find out about them in local child poverty action reports Local Child Poverty Action Reports, Improvement Service. Here are just a few examples.
Dundee City Council’s Cost of the School Day partnership with CPAG in Scotland helped to identify common financial barriers across the city and action to reduce them. In response to the Cost of the School Day Dundee report, Dundee City Council set four Statements of Intent:
More than 1,000 pupils across Moray took part in Cost of the School Day consultations, and the council published Cost of the School Day Guidance for Moray Schools outlining learning from the project.
Cost of the School Day is a core part of improvement planning in all schools, supported by the Strategic Equity Fund. Raising awareness, building inclusive school cultures and ensuring costs don’t prevent participation are key parts of this work. Learners are leading on much of what's happening in schools, and alongside improved communication between schools and families, and the availability of referral pathways, there is an enhanced focus on boosting family incomes.
Read the full West Lothian briefing.
South Lanarkshire published their Cost of the School Day (CoSD) Guidance for schools and Early Years establishments in March 2024. Schools can consult the guidance alongside supporting materials on their Staff Learning Centre, along with audits, questionnaires and examples of best practice. All schools now have a Cost of the School Day policy, posted on school websites and shared with families.
A recent parental survey 1,560 responses, and highlighted that many schools are doing an outstanding job supporting families, communication is an area for improvement. Schools have been supplied with an updated presentation to deliver to their Parent Councils.
Looking ahead, 20 schools have been chosen for an in depth study of their CoSD practices with a view to improving practice and sharing good practice with other schools.
Falkirk Council has developed a framework for schools and guidance for practitioners to support a consistent Cost of the School Day approach across establishments. Through consultation with schools a guidance document was created including a toolkit of ideas, useful contacts, professional learning opportunities and examples of creative ideas from across the authority to support practitioners, wherever they may be on their COSD journey.
Schools across Scotland are finding ways to cut costs and remove barriers. You’ll find many more examples in the Cost of the School Day Ideas Bank. Here are a few ideas schools have put in place:
Watch this video to see how Morgan Academy in Dundee is reducing the cost of uniforms.
Keith Grammar in Moray has implemented a ‘common sense’ approach to school wear.
At Port Glasgow High School, Inverclyde a blazer hire scheme was introduced after consulting with pupils.
Netherburn Primary School in South Lanarkshire offers free clubs for pupils.
Rosebank Primary School and Downfield Primary School in Dundee both took creative and cost free approaches to celebrating World Book Day. Rosebank Primary ran a book camp for all the children, parents and carers.
Downfield Primary School in Dundee set up a book tent and ran a book swap.
Miller Primary School in Glasgow make sure that Halloween is fun and free!
At Ardler Primary School in Dundee families can get help to apply for entitlements that really make a difference.
At Miller Primary School in Glasgow everything that young people need to learn is provided.
You'll find case studies full of great ideas that have worked for schools around Scotland in our Ideas Bank.
To see more films, take a look at the Cost of the School Day playlist in Child Poverty Action Group's YouTube channel.
Talking about Costs and Money at School
Talking about money at school can be challenging, but done well it reduces pressure on families, helps children and young people take part, and makes sure everybody gets the support they need.
Hear advice on better communication from more than 1800 parents and carers in this animation and practical resource.
“I feel less embarrassed about financial worries. I am so grateful for this simple but powerful thing: I feel we are not alone.”
Parent
Parents have highlighted five simple actions that help:
Schools can play a vital role in helping families access financial support. By sharing information about entitlements like best start grants, free school meals and the school clothing grant, schools can make sure every child has what they need to learn to participate fully in school life.
Families living on low incomes can claim these and other entitlements, find out more about financial help in the school years.
Effective communication is regular, universal and delivered in a range of ways, through:
Many parents and carers apply for entitlements because of a message from their child’s school.
“Entitlements were spoken about generally during the induction meeting when my child started Primary. They are reiterated via email and text. I am comforted to know they are there.”
Parent
“I have applied for the Scottish Child Payment recently due to information I received through school emails.”
Parent
