Holyrood’s Education Committee is set to explore the impact of experiencing poverty on the attainment of young people at school in a new inquiry.
The inquiry will also examine the types of interventions taking place across Scotland to mitigate the impacts of poverty – such a free school meals, after school clubs and youth work – and the affect these have.
The Committee now wants to hear from parents, young people, teachers and other school staff, and those who work with families and young people experiencing poverty to find out more about this work, including what is working, what is not working and what the barriers are to supporting our children and young people.
SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, who sits on the Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee, commented:
“The Scottish Government is committed to tackling educational inequality and getting rid of the attainment gap – with more than 60 schools across North Ayrshire set to benefit from over £4.4 million of Pupil Equity Funding next year alone.
“We know that there is a huge amount of work happening across the country to give Scotland’s children and young people the best chance to achieve. We want to hear about this work and the practical impact that this has. We also want to hear about the barriers that are faced in this work every day and how these could be overcome.
“I would encourage anyone in my constituency with views on this topic to get in touch and share their experience and expertise – from parents and carers to teaching staff and young people themselves.”
As well as gathering views in writing the Committee would like to hear from teachers, practitioners, parents and young people at its formal meetings.
Responses should be with the Committee by 22 March 2018.
More information about the Committee’s inquiry, including details of how to respond, can be found here.
Ruth Maguire MSP 