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.
In more and more schools children and young people are getting involved in creating and promoting initiatives which reduce costs barriers to education in their school. This case study is all about the work of young people at Braes High School in Falkirk, St John Ogilvie High School in South Lanarkshire and Buckie Community High School in Moray.
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.
Families who are struggling financially might assume that they can't afford trips for children, so when schools have put support to cover costs in place, how can they encourage the use of this help? Bannockburn Primary School in Stirling and Auchenharvie Academy in North Ayrshire have both looked at how the tackle self exclusion.
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.
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.
When CPAG in Scotland and the University of Aberdeen organised a roundtable event at the Scottish Parliament to discuss school uniform affordability and the school clothing grant with MSPs, we knew it was vital to hear directly from young people.
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.
