South Lanarkshire Council launches their Cost of the School Day Guidance

South Lanarkshire Council’s Cost of the School Day Conference took place this week, where the local authority further cemented its commitment to equity by launching its Cost of the School Day guidance, and ten proposals:

  1. All South Lanarkshire schools will promote the use of affordable inclusive and flexible uniforms for children and young people.
  2. Schools will encourage and support young people to apply for their under-22 free bus pass.
  3. No child or young person will need to pay for any aspect of their core curriculum/education.
  4. All South Lanarkshire schools will take part in the annual Challenge Poverty Week to raise awareness among our children and young people.
  5. Cost will never prevent any South Lanarkshire pupil attending an Educational Excursion held during the school day.
  6. All children and young people within South Lanarkshire schools will be encouraged to maintain healthy eating habits in line with the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2020.
  7. All South Lanarkshire schools/Early Years establishments will complete a Cost of the School Day calendar at the start of each year to ensure fun events are spread evenly through the year and include cost-free events.
  8. Every child or young person will be able to take part in at least one free extra-curricular club each school year.
  9. No learning at home activity will have financial implications for families.
  10. All South Lanarkshire schools and Early Years establishments will have a Cost of the School Day policy which will be: regularly reviewed; recognised within the Equity section of establishment Improvement Plans; written in consultation with all stakeholders; and shared annually with staff during the first in-service day and available to families through usual communication methods.

Many South Lanarkshire schools have already taken steps to reduce costs and remove barriers for children from low-income families. Quality Lead Officer Supporting Families, Maureen Farr said that in South Lanarkshire schools “the stuff that’s going on is simply incredible, so many of our schools are doing amazing things.” The guidance and proposals have been brought together by a working group, and are based on work happening in schools like Carluke High School and Rigside Primary. Geraldine Sim, Depute Head Teacher at Carluke High School, and Rigside Primary School’s Head Teacher Alison Mechan spoke at the conference, and told delegates about their schools, and the diverse range of support they offer to children, young people and their families.

The keynote speech was given by rapper, anti-poverty campaigner, writer and broadcaster Darren McGarvey, who shared insights into his own experience of growing up in a single parent family with no money: “I was very, very aware that not only did I come from a poorer family, but that this was something to be ashamed of."

Darren described what impressed him about South Lanarkshire Council’s work to reduce the impact of poverty and the role the guidance will play: 

“In every generation there are different expressions of inequalities, there are different expressions of the pressures on parents, there are different challenges that teachers, head teachers and educators of all sorts have got to try and balance. So it is good to see that some local authorities are attempting to rise to the challenge.”

Education Director Carole McKenzie told delegates: “I am 100% behind the pledges that have been written, and I am asking today that every one of you is too.” Carole acknowledged that schools are facing financial challenges, but said: 

“Fairness is free, doing the right thing comes at zero cost, and having compassion and empathy for others, while acknowledging the limits of our own resources, costs not a penny.”

Sara Spencer, manager of the Cost of the School Day programme at Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland said that:

"It's fantastic to see a local authority showing such leadership and strategic support for reducing the cost of the school day. South Lanarkshire Council can rightly be incredibly proud of the work that many schools in the area are doing to alleviate the effects of poverty on children and young people. This guidance can only help to grow and expand this work, and support even more learners to take part fully in education, be happy at school and learn."