Cost of the School Day resources

Date: 5th September 2017
Category: Child poverty, Education, including vocational education
Author: Child Poverty Action Group

CPAG in Scotland have launched a series of free resources on the cost of the school day for use in group or training settings, and to support schools to increase their understanding of child poverty, identify the impact of school costs and decide what action to take.

Several of the resources are funded by Glasgow City HSCP and have been developed with Glasgow Parent Councils' Forum and NHSGGC in Glasgow schools. However, the information, tips and suggestions contained within all of the resources are transferable to any school in Scotland. Please feel to use and share them widely. Further national resources will be available over the coming months.

1. Cost of the School Day Flashcards

Cards depicting different parts of the school day to stimulate discussion on the cost of the school day amongst groups of staff, pupils or parents

2. Supporting Families Affected by Poverty

Leaflet highlighting some of the practical steps that schools can take to support families to access financial support available to them both at school and more widely

3. Cost of the School Day Toolkit for Parent Councils

This toolkit, developed in partnership with Glasgow Parent Councils' Forum, is designed to help Parent Councils identify where costs are affecting low income families in their school and learn about the ways in which other Parent Councils have acted to poverty proof their schools.

4. Guidance for Parent Councils

Last year, Parent Councils across Glasgow took part in Cost of the School Day workshops run in partnership with Glasgow Parent Councils' Forum. This guidance gathers together ideas and practical actions which Parent Council members suggested to help mitigate school costs and ensure that all children can participate fully at school

5. What are the costs of your school day?

Group exercise to help explore and estimate likely costs for families in your school. This is one way to develop a baseline measure, the first step in addressing the cost of the school day.

6. Cost of the School Day reflective questions

Questions to prompt reflection and inquiry into costs and their impact.

• Download these resources here.