In 2020 Dundee City Council asked all schools to come up with ways of celebrating World Book Day in the most inclusive way possible, with little or zero cost to families. This case study features the work of two Dundee schools who came up with really creative and exciting ways to do this, Rosebank Primary School and Downfield Primary School.
Neilsland Primary School in South Lanarkshire has managed to narrow the attendance gap between learners from lower income and higher income families, by tackling the poverty related barriers to attendance, with communication at all levels key to this success.
Specialised staff members are a key part of some school's communication strategy, and can be particularly good at keeping in touch with families who can be harder to reach. Wallace High School in Stirling and The Rainbow Family Centre in Inverclyde have experience of building relationships and trust through face to face engagement.
Offering cost reducing support for families can only make a difference if they know that it exists and feel comfortable accessing it. These case studies offer insights into how different schools share information with pupils, parents and carers about support, in a non stigmatising way.
Learners at Trinity High School have been working with teaching staff to identify costs and create a costs calendar. The calendar will help all members of the school community see where costs arise, what support is offered, and widen participation for all learners.
Many schools are consider how to help with the cost of learning, particularly now that digital devices are so important. St Paul's RC Academy in Dundee now offers resources for home learning as well as covering any costs related to the curriculum and The Rainbow Centre in Inverclyde is tackling digital inequality for families.
