Strategic Equity Funding: national operational guidance 2023

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.

High quality early learning and childcare (ELC) can make a huge difference to children's lives and continuing readiness to learn, particularly when they are growing up in more disadvantaged circumstances. There is clear evidence that support in the earliest years is critical to ensuring all children have the chance to learn and develop. Strategic Equity Funding can therefore be used to provide support for a learner's transition between ELC settings – such as nurseries – and primary schools. Families who access their ELC in private and third sector settings are equally eligible for this support. Funding should not be used in ways that stigmatises children and young people or their parents and carers.

The funding should be utilised for appropriately targeted resources, activities and approaches for learners impacted by poverty, and 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 and Achievement
• Attendance
• Inclusion
• Engagement
• Participation