Strategic Equity Fund: national operational guidance 2022

Use of Strategic Equity Funding

How can it be used?

This funding should be used by local authorities to undertake strategic approaches to achieve the mission of the Scottish Attainment Challenge, with a clear focus on delivering equity through improving outcomes for learners impacted by poverty.

Funding should not be used in ways that stigmatise children and young people or their parents or carers. Approaches that impact on transitions between school stages – for example between nursery and primary or between broad general education and senior phase – can also be considered.

The funding should be focused on resources, activities and approaches focussed on learners impacted by poverty, which will lead to improvements in literacy, numeracy and support health and wellbeing.

Local authorities should work strategically across their school communities, which includes children and young people and their families, and collaboratively with their school leaders and with Regional Improvement Collaboratives to develop approaches to improving the health and wellbeing and educational attainment and achievement of children and young people impacted by poverty.

Consideration should be given to how the local authority can work with wider local services, such as Community Learning and Development, Social Work or Family Services, and with community or third sector partners to support the health and wellbeing, attainment and outcomes of children and young people impacted by poverty.

The three organisers of learning and teaching; leadership; and, families and communities should shape local approaches.

Within those, the following five key indicators may be helpful to take into consideration when deciding which approaches would have the most impact for children and young people impacted by poverty.

• Attainment
• Attendance
• Inclusion
• Engagement
• Participation