Schools’ fight against child poverty praised

Council received report on actions taken to combat financial stress on families and reduce costs

Scenes from classic tales have been woven throughout Chatsworth House in Bakewell, Derbyshire, to create a storybook world.

Chatsworth is home to Work being done in Angus schools to tackle child poverty and reduce the cost of a school day has been praised by councillors.

Members of the local authority’s children and learning committee were given an update on practical steps being taken to help families struggling to meet the rising costs of school uniforms and trips.

Work is under way to more effectively publicise and streamline processes for access to clothing grants and free school meals.

Many schools offer swap shops for uniform and some schools have also reviewed their uniform suppliers to reduce costs for families.

Burnside Primary in Carnoustie recycles school uniforms and has also been successful in acquiring more than £3,500 of clothing grants from a local charity for families.

A report entitled Child Poverty – The Cost of the School Day put before the committee found the cost of school trips can be a particular demand for families.

It said: “Schools endeavour to ensure trips with a cost are paid up over a long period of time and parents supported in

“School costs can put pressure on families and put children at risk of missing out

setting up trip accounts to keep payments as manageable as possible.

“Schools also work with their parent partnerships to seek support for funding school trips where required as transport costs for school trips can be challenging.”

The report stated all schools can make direct referrals to foodbanks to support families, and snacks provided in local authority early learning and childcare establishments are now funded.

All local authorities have a statutory duty to report what actions they are taking to help meet the ambitious targets set by the Scottish Government for the reduction in child poverty rates.

In Angus this work is being progressed through the Community Planning Partnership and the Angus Integrated Children’s Services Group.

They are working to submit their first annual report and associated child poverty action plan in June 2019.

The report said: “School costs can put pressure on families and put children at risk of missing out on opportunities and feeling different, excluded and unhappy.

“The Cost of the School Day involves children and young people, parents, carers and school staff in identifying financial barriers and in taking action to remove them.

“School communities have discussed issues in relation to uniform, school trips, travel to school, learning at school, eating at school, friendships, school clubs, fun events and learning at home.”

Welcoming the report, Lynne Devine, SNP councillor for Forfar and district, said it was “fabulous” some schools were running their own uniform swap shops and were also signposting families to other groups, including churches, which ran similar projects.

jathomson@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: PA. the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has been passed down through 16 generations. The house contains works of art that span 4,000 years and has more than 30 rooms. Pictured is Rebecca Fallow putting the finishing touches to the Cinderella room.