New guidance to help reduce the cost of the school day for local families
New guidance has been introduced across Falkirk schools to help reduce the hidden costs of education and ensure no child misses out on learning or school activities because of financial pressures.
The Cost of the School Day guidance provides practical ways for schools and early learning settings to identify and reduce unnecessary costs for families, while making it easier to access the support available.
The guidance comes as many families continue to face sustained financial pressures and ever increasing living costs. In Scotland, 75% of children in poverty live in working families.
Rather than introducing a one-size-fits-all approach, the guidance encourages every school and early learning setting to consider the impact of costs across all aspects of school life. This includes school uniform, trips, clubs, learning materials, fundraising, digital learning and school events, helping to ensure every child can take part fully regardless of their family's circumstances.
Schools will also be encouraged to review how they communicate with families, reduce stigma around asking for help and make information about financial support available to everyone.
Councillor Iain Sinclair, Education Portfolio Holder, said:
Every child should have the opportunity to learn, take part and thrive at school without financial pressures getting in the way.
"This guidance is about looking at school life through the eyes of families and asking what more we can do to remove unnecessary costs.
“Sometimes that will mean changing the way we organise activities, sometimes it will mean making support easier to access, but the aim is always the same - ensuring every child has the same opportunities to learn and participate.
Jon Reid, Director of Education Services, said:
Schools already do a great deal to support children and families, and many examples of excellent practice are already happening across Falkirk.
"This guidance brings that good practice together in one place and provides a consistent framework for all schools and early learning settings. It supports the Council’s wider Fairer Falkirk ambition to tackle poverty while reducing the barriers that can affect children's wellbeing, participation and attainment.
"By working closely with families and our partners, we want to ensure cost is never a barrier to learning or taking part in the full life of the school community.
The guidance has been developed through a Strategic Equity Fund workstream and aligns with the ‘Building a Fairer Falkirk 2024 - 2029' Anti-Poverty Strategy and wider work to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap. This includes work to maximise take-up of education benefits like Free School Meals, Clothing Grants and Education Maintenance Allowance, and key financial support for families like Scottish Child Payments.
Schools will use the guidance alongside their existing approaches to identify local priorities, engage with pupils and families, and continue developing practical, low-cost solutions that meet the needs of their communities.