Scotland’s first ‘cost of the school day fund’ goes live today in Renfrewshire to offer a crucial safety net to local families struggling to make ends meet.
The £280,000 pot will help parents meet costs associated with the school day, and forms part of an education package that will pump an extra £3.3m into closing the attainment gap between pupils from high and low income households and improving children’s life chances.
Announced in summer as part of Renfrewshire Council’s blueprint to tackle poverty, the cost of the school day fund will be spread across all of the area’s 63 schools, with each school’s allocation linked to deprivation levels.
Councillor Mark Macmillan, Leader of Renfrewshire Council said: “The Renfrewshire Tackling Poverty Commission told us the costs associated with the school day – no matter how small –quickly add up and can have a significant impact on families who live on the breadline.
“This can often result in children feeling stigmatised at school and can act as a barrier to leaning.
“It’s a positive step forward that we now have a safety net in place for those families, because no child should feel stigmatised in school.
“We know that more households facing hardship now have someone working than not, and this fund will support all families who are struggling.
“That includes those whose children aren’t eligible for free school meals or clothing grants because they’re a working household – but yet who struggle with these costs as a result of coping with in-work poverty.
“Tackling poverty remains one of this councils top priorities and I am proud our cost of the school day fund is now up and running.”
Head teachers will oversee distribution of their school’s allocation of the fund. It can be used to support families with the costs of school trips including travel and entry costs, uniform and PE kit, food, and other curricular expenses.
John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, said: “We know from our own work that too many children miss out on vital elements of the school day because their families just don’t have the resources to pay for additional transport, trips, food, clothing or materials.
“At the same time too many parents find themselves pushed into deeper financial problems in order to meet these costs.
“That’s why we are delighted that Renfrewshire Council has established this new fund to enable schools to remove cost barriers, and that they are committed to doing so in ways which avoid stigmatising any child.“