East Lothian Council is to receive additional money to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap and support COVID-19 recovery.
The move follows a change to the way the Scottish Government allocates its Scottish Attainment Challenge funding.
The Scottish Attainment Challenge exists to provide funding that will be used to tackle the poverty-attainment gap in schools and support education recovery. Whilst East Lothian Council received Pupil Equity Funding as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge, it was not one of the nine ‘Challenge Authorities ‘that received additional funding. Following a review of the programme, the Scottish Government has confirmed that funding will now be shared across all local authorities based on Children in Low Income Families data. This allocation will be in addition to Pupil Equity Funding (PEF).
East Lothian Council’s Executive Director for Education and Children’s Services, Lesley Brown, was one of three Directors of Education representing the Association of Directors of Education Scotland on the Scottish Attainment Challenge Advisory Board. She said: “I am pleased to support the broader mission of the Scottish Attainment Challenge to improve outcomes for children and young people by closing the poverty-related attainment gap. This recognises that improving outcomes for children in poverty cannot be done by schools alone.
“I am particularly pleased that Scottish Attainment Challenge funding will be distributed across all local authorities, recognising that poverty affects all areas. This refreshed mission and renewed purpose will provide welcome additional support for work already underway in East Lothian to improve outcomes for our learners.”
Funding allocations will be published by Scottish Government in due course.