East Ayrshire Council decided to commit funding to extend their Financial Inclusion Team and place workers in every secondary school in the authority, focusing on maximising family incomes, making sure families are receiving all the benefits and entitlements they’re eligible for. Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland worked with the financial inclusion team to deliver child poverty and rights sessions to 70 learners, helping to raise awareness of the causes of poverty in Scotland, the impact poverty can have on children’s rights and cost barriers families and pupil face at school.
Between 2017 and 2020 the Cost of the School Day team at Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland worked with schools and more than 700 young people in Dundee, to produce findings which supported actions like cheaper uniform suppliers, more inclusive homework policies, greater consistency in lending resources, breakfast provision, free ‘ready to learn’ packs, non-stigmatising approaches to fundraising, trip subsidies, and improved promotion of financial entitlements.
All schools in South Lanarkshire have a Cost of the School Day Position Statement and work hard to limit costs wherever possible. The team describe what their current priorities are.
Auchenharvie Academy in North Ayrshire runs a six week Parents in Partnership (PIP) programme where parents and carers of S1 pupils come ‘back to school’, following a first-year timetable to experience a school day and build relationships with peers and teachers.
The Giffnock Primary Parent Equalities Group, East Renfrewshire has been consulting with the school community on cost barriers and recently set up a pre-loved uniform shop for its families.
To help reduce the cost of the school day Kirkintilloch High School, East Dunbartonshire, bought a big cabinet for stationery and other products students might need, and put it where everyone has access.
These activities can help your group to start conversations, and consider what impact poverty and costs can have on school life. This is a great place to get started raising awareness and understanding.
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.
