Closing the poverty related attainment gap
The Scottish Government has a strong focus on closing the poverty related attainment gap in recognition of the impact that poverty can have on children and young people’s educational experiences and outcomes. Poverty and financial precariousness have a disproportionate impact on children in need of care and protection and can have a negative effect on areas such as attendance, exclusion, attainment, and post school destinations. Ensuring that families are able to access and receive the financial support that they may be entitled to is important, and education practitioners are often well placed to signpost and support families to work with agencies and organisations who can provide advice and financial assistance.
In this meeting of the Education Forum, hosted by CELCIS, we learned more about some of the help available to some of the families and young people who are supported in Scotland. Attendees heard from Emma Mcginlay and Tony Mitchell from the National Engagement and Partnership Team of Social Security Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government that delivers social security payments. They shared information on some of Social Security Scotland's Low Income Benefits, which are currently available to eligible families and young people across Scotland. This will include information on both the Five Family Payments package, which helps pregnant people, children, and their families during key milestones, and the Job Start Payment, which is available to support young people entering the workplace.
Download the notes from the breakout rooms
Download the presentation slides
About the Education Forum
At CELCIS, we are privileged to convene and coordinate a free, open-access network of practitioners and leaders who are involved or interested in the education of children with experience of care, and their families. We encourage and facilitate opportunities for practitioners to come together in a reflective, challenging and enabling space.
Membership is free and open to anyone with an interest in this area of education. We have members who are students, foster carers, health visitors, teachers and academics - so many different roles are represented.
To find out more about the Forum, visit the Education Forum webpage