EDUCATION must be “poverty-proofed” to help children living under the breadline, a report has said.
About 210,000 children across Scotland live in poverty, and one in three children in the country’s biggest city, according to estimates, and a report published today is urging authorities to reduce the cost of the school day to help more pupils achieve.
The report, a year-long project carried out by the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG), has identified several barriers to learning, including access to uniforms, travelling to school, entitlement to free school meals and resources for homework.
Based on work with more than 300 youngsters across eight schools, it found many pupils miss out on opportunities at school and feel “different, excluded and unhappy”.
John Dickie, director of CPAG, said: “No child should ever miss out or be made to feel awkward at school just because their families are struggling on a low income but our work tells that all too often they do.
“It’s now vital that schools, local authorities and national government act on this report to ensure that no child misses out on any aspect of school because of financial barriers.
“If Scotland is serious about closing the attainment gap all our young people should benefit from everything that our schools have to offer, whatever their family income.”
The study found school clothing is “the main indicator of income” for pupils and “the first thing to be picked on”.
According to the findings, strict dress code enforcement “embarrasses young people” and parents struggle to replace necessary items.
Attendance can suffer due to transport costs, with families of pupils living within two miles of primary or three miles of secondary schools given no financial help.
Not all eligible youngsters access free school meals, and those who do suffer stigma. Some children also lack computer and internet access at home to complete homework tasks, while others do not have “calm, quiet environments” to work in and shared learning tasks prove “difficult” if parents are unable to help.
The author of the research, Sara Spencer, who will present the findings at an Inclusion and Equalities conference today, also found some school staff “draw a distinction between ‘real’, unavoidable poverty and poverty created or exacerbated by poor financial choices”.
The paper recommends that policy makers ensure education decisions are “poverty impact-assessed with a view to reducing school costs for low income families and mitigating the effects of poverty on children and young people”.
Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Education and Young People at Glasgow City Council, said: “It is estimated in Glasgow that one in three children are in poverty – affecting almost 36,000 of our children.
“We will try to do everything possible that we can to eliminate the obstacles that poverty can create so that every child in Glasgow can have equal access to a quality education.
“The findings of this valuable report will shape future polices in Glasgow and build on the good practice and work already being carried out on this area in our schools,” he added.
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