Share
Tweet
Cost of the School Day practice across Tayside
Cost of the School Day at Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland is a Scottish Attainment Challenge national programme supporting schools and local authorities to tackle financial barriers to education for children and families on low incomes.
Dundee
Dundee City Council has had a commitment to removing financial barriers to education since 2016, using funding through Scottish Attainment Challenge to work with CPAG Scotland resulting in a full report and in October 2018 four statements of intent.
Ardler Primary School – Virtual Family Cooking Group
|
|
|
What was done?
Family Learning groups had taken place in the school pre-Covid. The School & Family Development Worker was keen to maintain relationships throughout lockdown. An online cooking group was developed and ran weekly using Teams. The Can Cookit recipes were utilised for healthy and nutritious meals that families could replicate easily. Families were provided with all the ingredients needed.
Why was it done?
The online cooking group ensured that relationships were maintained as well as giving new families the opportunity to engage in activities. The free ingredients ensured that families had a nutritious meal at least once a week. Parents/carers and children cooked and learned together gaining lots from the family learning approach.
Who was involved?
Funding was obtained through Dundee Bairns. Partners involved in delivery included NHS Tayside and Dundee West Community trust.
The difference it made
Families who might not have engaged with the school otherwise built positive relationships with staff and as a result, were more likely to ask for support in other areas such as help with finances and entitlements’ to keep the cost of the school day focus.
PDF file: Feedback slide (538 KB)
Next steps
Dundee Bairns have created a cooking group fund so that the programme can be rolled out across schools in Dundee. Ardler’s School and Family Development Worker will share their experience with others.
Early Years in Dundee
What was done?
In line with schools across Dundee, local authority early years settings identified costs for families and created Cost of the School Day action plans which would help them reduce costs, boost incomes and support families.
Why was it done?
Although costs associated with these settings were minimal, a few common themes were identified such as snack/toy funds, dress up days, fundraising and clothing.
Who was involved?
Working in individual settings and across the city, solutions were sought to ensure early years in Dundee was completely cost free. Ideas implemented included: settings having a bank of items such as clothing, warm jackets and outdoor shoes, pop-up ‘recycling’ shops and the use of fair share.
The difference it made
The focus on Cost of the School Day across the early years in Dundee has been so successful that settings no longer have action plans as there are zero costs associated for families.
Next steps
It remains a priority to ensure this stays that way. Links with staff including, School and Family Development Workers and utilising networks to share practise supports this.
Angus
Angus Council has a commitment to Cost of the School Day and this work has been driven forward by the Parental Engagement Officers.
Ladyloan Primary School – Social Supermarket
What was done?
S-Mart was founded by the Community First social enterprise. It takes surplus food from across Angus to sell at a much cheaper cost. Ladyloan opened its own ‘mini’ S-Mart in an old bike shed on the school premises. This was opened in April 2021 and is available to anyone in the local community. People can visit the first time for free and then become an S-Mart member for £5 for the year. If people have been affected by Covid-19 they may get a funded card for free.
Why was it done?
- To reduce food waste
- To tackle food insecurity
- To give families access to cheaper, healthy food
- To encourage people to shop locally and support the community
Who was involved?
The school worked closely with their local S-Mart in Forfar
The difference it made
- Less food waste
- Positive impact on the environment
- Positive impact on the local community
- Families access cheaper, healthy food
Next steps
To continue to promote the school’s S-Mart to the local community.
Lochside Primary School
PDF file: Lochside poster (2 MB)
What was done?
- Support with entitlements and financial support
- Free breakfast club and classroom bowls
- Lochside Take-away cupboard
- Resources/clothing for outdoor learning
- Kit for home learning
- Improved access to school trips/equipment/after schools clubs
- Family Learning Opportunities
Why was it done?
- Minimising the stigma and exclusion of families.
- Supporting families to access financial entitlements.
- Providing equal access to learning opportunities and extra-curricular clubs.
- Ensuring our Pupil Equity Funding is used effectively to support our families to remove barriers.
Who was involved?
All school staff
The difference it made
Cost of the School Day action in a wide range of areas has improved access to activities and experiences for children and helped to strengthen communication and relationships with parents and carers.
Key document
Improvement questions
- What is the cost of your school day? How much might it cost a family in your school to fully participate across the school year? Which costs might place the greatest pressure on families on low incomes?
- What barriers to participation and learning might children and young people from low income households face throughout the school day? Reflecting on data and your own knowledge, who is at risk of missing out on learning and wider opportunities?
- What financial entitlements and support are available for families on low incomes in your school and how aware are they of it? How can you help to improve awareness and uptake
- How much do you know about what it’s like at your school for children and families on low incomes?
- How can you involve your school community in finding out more about financial barriers and ways to overcome them?
Share this resource: