Scottish Attainment Challenge 2022 to 2023 - 2025 to 2026: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

2. What impact will your policy/measure have on children's rights?

The refresh of the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) will not introduce a new policy, but will build on existing policy for the next phase: 2022/2023 – 2025/2026. This policy has been developed in partnership with and (the funding package) agreed by COSLA and builds on the evidence set out in the Scottish Government and Education Scotland 5 year report on progress towards closing the poverty-related attainment gap, the Equity Audit, the Audit Scotland report on educational outcomes, and the OECD review. It will continue to provide support for children and young people impacted by poverty through funding to local authorities, through Strategic Equity Funding, Pupil Equity Funding, Care Experienced Children and Young People funding and a number of national programmes. The main aim of the policy is to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerate progress in closing the attainment gap.

This policy's mission is to use education to improve outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty, with a focus on tackling the poverty-related attainment gap.

In summary the plans are that with the support of £1 billion over this parliamentary term – increased from £750 million during the last parliament – the refreshed SAC programme, from 2022/23, will include:

• an annual investment of up to £200 million in 2022/2023 to support children and young people impacted by poverty;
• continued empowerment of headteachers through Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) as the primary model for distributing funding to the education system, with funding of approximately £130 million annually to be allocated to 97% of schools;
• continued investment to support Care Experienced Children and Young People (CECYP funding), contributing to keeping the Promise;
• the introduction of Strategic Equity Funding (SEF) of over £43 million, which will be distributed annually to every local authority based on Children in Low Income Families Data;
• investment in national programmes to enhance supports across the system, supporting a range of national initiatives such as youth work and mentoring; and
• a broader recognition of children and young people's achievements and attainment through the refreshed mission

Funding allocations for PEF and SEF are confirmed for the until the end of the Parliamentary term, giving local authorities and schools certainty to support long term planning.

The SAC is underpinned by the principles of Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), the Scottish Government's national approach to improving outcomes for babies, children, young people and families. At its heart, it is rooted in Children's Rights. The shared model and language enables children, young people, families and practitioners to work across services so that support is well-planned, joined-up and streamlined, helping to prevent or mitigate childhood adversity and trauma.