Cost of the School Day Voice network members Summer and Brooke from Ardrossan Academy and Cathy and Leland from Newton Primary school took part in a Scottish Parliament roundtable about universal free school meals. Organised by Monica Lennon MSP in collaboration with the STUC Women’s Committee and the Sunday Mail as part of the Food for Thought campaign, the learners got the chance to tell decision makers, including Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, what they thought about universal free school meal provision and what needs to happen next.
In these case studies we explore how can make a understanding poverty in your catchment area can make a big difference for school staff. We find out how three schools raise awareness amongst their staff.
Welfare advice can make a big difference to families who are struggling financially, and schools are increasingly offering ‘referral pathways’ to help boost incomes. This case study features two educational settings who are supporting families in this way.
Schools who offer a range of support for families living on lower incomes have also put thought into how this help can be promoted to boost uptake. Balwearie High School in Fife and Braes High School in Falkirk have both found multiple ways to get the message out to parents and carers.
These case studies describe how uniform policy which is mindful of costs and developed in collaboration with the whole school can really take the pressure off families.
Uniform banks can be a really good way of ensuring everyone has what they need, and how a school chooses to set them up can vary according to their context and the needs of families in their area. These case studies show how schools have taken different approaches to suit their setting.
