The gap in primary literacy attainment between pupils in Renfrewshire’s most and least deprived areas has widened, councillors have been told.
The gap increased from 18.9 percentage points in 2024/25 to 21.5 percentage points in 2025/26 across the combined P1, P4 and P7 measure.
The figures were discussed at Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on Thursday, 29th October 2026.
An education officer said the change was being driven primarily by P1 attainment data and linked the difficulties facing younger children to the impact of the pandemic.
The officer said: “In relation to the primary literacy gap in particular, we are aware of it and we are currently working on an improvement plan and some of the interventions that are around it.”
Councillors heard that the council’s targeted schools programme includes a particular focus on P1 pupils, supported by staff training.
The council is also taking part in a Scottish Government writing programme focused on P4. Officers said that, if the pilot was successful, the approach could be extended to other stages.
An early language and communication toolkit has been developed with early years staff, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists.
Officers said they hoped this would support children coming through nursery and into school.
The papers show that 76.8% of pupils across the combined primary stages achieved the expected literacy level in 2025/26.
The gap in numeracy attainment moved in the opposite direction, narrowing from 14.9 to 14.6 percentage points.
National comparison figures for 2025/26 were not yet available.