Cost of School Day helps in cost of living crisis

A senior councillor is stressing that experience gained from anti-poverty initiatives across Dundee schools over the years is enabling them to better support families struggling now, due to the current cost of living crisis.

The children and families services committee is being asked to agree, at its latest meeting, that Cost of the School day actions, including the poverty-proofing of school activities, should now be embedded, as appropriate, within School Improvement Plans.

Action Plans are now being carried forward in all Dundee schools following the initial project. This ran with support from the Child Poverty Action Group and was a key recommendation of the Dundee Fairness Commission in 2016.

The council later launched Cost of the School Day Statements of Intent which proposed that:

•             no child or young person in Dundee will start school without a breakfast;

•             no child in Dundee will miss out on their Primary 7 residential trip due to cost;

•             all schools will develop a Cost of the School Day action plan by the end of session 2018/2019; and

•             all children and young people in Dundee schools will have access to an affordable school uniform.

Members of the committee will hear that the Pupil Equity Fund continues to support initiatives at individual school level.

Examples from schools across the city include breakfast and fruit snacks being readily available, subsidised trips including P7 residentials, cheaper uniform suppliers, provision of PE kit, non-stigmatising approaches to fundraising and improved promotion of financial entitlements.

Children and families convener Councillor Stewart Hunter said: “We can never be complacent around these issues, as is being shown by the current cost of living crisis.

“Schools are now better placed to offer assistance due to the impact that has been made by the Cost of the School Day campaign.

“There are many examples of pioneering work to tackle the challenges faced by many families in all areas of the city.

“We are under no illusions that this remains a huge task. But I am heartened by the creativity and dedication of staff who are making sure that pupils are not disadvantaged by financial barriers and can play a full part in school life.”

The children and families service committee meets on Monday January 23.

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