Background 

Situated in the main town of Kirkwall, Papdale is an urban rural school and is the largest primary in Orkney. Orkney has no schools within SIMD quintile 1. In Papdale, 14.8% of live in quintile 2, whilst 61.9% live in quintile 4.  Of the 427 pupils, 8.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. However, poverty exists. 

Rationale 

The impact of COVID-19 in Orkney was prevalent much later than most areas in Scotland. In January 2022, the headteacher (HT) noted a significant decrease in attendance. The senior leadership team (SLT) targeted pupils with low attendance. Contact was made with all affected families and, on further investigation, the headteacher discovered that: 

• some families were living in extremely poor conditions, such as mould, lack of heating and overcrowding 
• these conditions were contributing to the ongoing ill health of some of the children 
• families had significant worries over money, particularly in their ability to pay for heating bills 

The HT took immediate action, contacted the housing department and repairs were carried out. Subsequent conversations led to evidence of an increase in: 

• families without coats 
• those not going to dentist 
• anxiety and separation anxiety 
• more young carers being identified 
• a drop in library membership 

The SLT also realised the school needed to be more ‘poverty aware’. Families needed to know about the available support in Orkney and how to access it. In partnership with the Parent Council, the HT decided to run a Wellbeing and Learning Fair for all families in the school and nursery. 

At the same time, the school had included improving literacy in its improvement plan and decided to share its work at the Fair, hence its name. It was also recognised that some families did not have access to appropriate reading materials. 

Attainment Scotland Funding 

Not applicable 

What Papdale Primary School did

Wellbeing and Learning Fair 

In May 2022, in partnership with the Parent Council, the school organised a Wellbeing and Learning Fair. Contact was made with a range of agencies who could contribute and/or take part. This was the first face-to-face event held in the school since COVID and restrictions had just been lifted. Fourteen agencies were represented at this first Fair including: 

• the Library Service 
• NHS Orkney 
• Community Learning Development and Employment (CLDE) 
• the Learning Link 
• Social Security Scotland 
• Tackling Household Affordable Warmth (THAW) Orkney 
• the Young Carers Group 

The Fair was held in the school towards the end of the school day to make it easier for parents to attend before school pick up and after school pick up. Tea, coffee and healthy snacks were provided. The Parent Council organised a welly boot swap and reinvigorated the school clothing swap shop to help parents provide items of clothing and footwear equipment for outdoor learning. The school took the opportunity to share its work, for example the most recent school development in literacy and work on the Zones of Regulation. 

Literacy 

As part of the school development plan it was recognised that not all children and their families could readily access reading materials. Inspired by the potential of partnership approaches, the Parent Council and school worked to encourage access to books in the following ways: 

• to coincide with World Book Day the concept of ‘The Book Neuk’ was developed 
• the Parent Council was keen to manage this project 
• along with the school community, new or nearly new books were donated and gathered; all books had to be in excellent condition; there was an overwhelming response from the community 
• the Book Neuk encourages children to take a book or return it 

It was so successful that it continues to be a valued and integral part of school life 

Poverty awareness 

The school became increasingly aware of the families: 

• being unable to pay for their school meal debt 
• where children were not attending events or trips because their families could not afford them 
• access to trips being hampered as a result of the associated costs of equipment, bag, coats, etc. 

Participation 

In partnership with a third sector organisation, the Orkney Charitable Trust and the Parent Council, a Participation Fund was established in the school. The money is used to: 

• support children to go on trips 
• set up a winter clothes library – which other schools can also borrow 
• purchase new clothing 
• purchase footwear, dresses for parties 
• verruca socks to allow access to the swimming pool 
• pay school meal debt 

Impact 

Wellbeing and Learning 

Feedback from agencies attending the Wellbeing and Learning Fair was very positive and reported they networked with families and each other. Agencies were able to signpost and engage people with their service. In the case of Social Security Scotland, this provided a chance to speak to people that were unable to meet in their homes due to the COVID restrictions. This resulted in the school being a place for Social Security Scotland to meet with people. A number of children, previously unknown, were identified as young carers. Agencies requested that a Fair be held more than once per year and also offered this to other schools. The school has become a referrer to the Orkney foodbank. 

Literacy

There has been an increase in:

• reading attainment across the school 
• library membership
• interest in, and conversation about, books and authors at home
• overall attainment in reading by 2pp 

the Book Neuk continues to run and thousands of books have been exchanged in the past two years. All children now have access to books and can keep them if they choose. 

A number of parents signed up for the Adult Literacy programme. Several adults contacted the Learning Link and adult literacy groups were set up in school.

Attendance 

In February 2022, 40 children identified with less than 80% attendance. As a result of the concerted effort to improve attendance, this decreased to 24 children by May 2022. Recent data shows that this has decreased to 11 children. 

Participation

Relationships between school and family have improved and relationships between staff and pupils have improved.

More children can attend residential trips and can have access to clothing for activities, events and trips.

The ‘Every child deserves a Christmas’ fund gave £60 to children who were all eligible for free school meals and others on the margins of poverty.

The Food Bank Orkney has made phone calls to families.

Having a fund where schools can support families facing financial difficulties has been encouraged by the Council. Grant funding from the Islands Costs Crisis Fund from the Scottish Government is used to support the additional costs of living in islands.