Scottish Attainment Challenge Funding Update 2024
Perth and Kinross Council · 23 October 2024
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 23 October 2024 and its agenda
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Perth and Kinross Council Learning and Families Committee 23 October 2024 SCOTTISH ATTAINMENT CHALLENGE FUNDING UPDATE 2024 Report by Strategic Lead - Education and Learning (Report No. 24/291) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report provides an update on progress made in Perth and Kinross in relation to the provision of support for children and young people affected by poverty and those who are care-experienced to achieve their full potential, focusing on targeted improvement activity in literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing, and in closing the poverty related attainment gap. 1.2 It outlines the range of measures implemented through Strategic Equity Funding (SEF), Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) and Care Experienced Children and Young People’s Funding (CECYPF) to improve performance and monitor the progress of improvements. It meets the requirements to report on the expenditure and impact of SEF, PEF and CECYPF. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: • Considers the contents of this report. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) was launched in 2015 with the mission of closing the poverty-related attainment gap. 4.2 In November 2021, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills set out plans for a refreshed SAC from April 2022. The mission of this refreshed challenge 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.”
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4.2.1 This mission recognises the need to reflect the breadth of achievements and experiences, and the importance of health and wellbeing to contribute to improved outcomes for children and young people, including through improved post-school participation in positive destinations. 4.3 Resources for the SAC, through the Attainment Scotland Fund (ASF), are provided to local authorities through SEF and CECYPF; and directly to schools through PEF. This is additional targeted investment, which is used strategically alongside existing funding at, and across, local authority and school level to achieve the shared national mission of the SAC. Every education authority in Scotland receives SEF, PEF and CECYPF. 4.3.1 SEF is distributed equitably to all local authorities based on the UK government’s Children in low income families: local area statistics data for the 2019/20 financial year. 4.3.2 PEF is allocated to schools on the basis of the estimated number of registered free school meals in primary 1 to secondary 3, with £1225 allocated per pupil. 4.3.4 CECPYF is allocated to support care experienced children and young people at a figure of £1225 per looked after child aged 5-15, as outlined in the Children’s Social Work Statistics Scotland, 2021/22. Local authorities are asked to use local data to understand which individual children, groups of children, or families, would benefit most from this additional funding. This includes considering the needs of all young people aged 0-26 who are eligible to be supported and engaging with partner agencies and establishments to provide this. 4.4 In Perth and Kinross, Headteachers have full access to PEF funding and meet regularly with their Finance Officer to review spending. Although funding is allocated on the basis of eligibility described above, Headteachers are expected to use their discretion in making decisions about which children and young people would benefit most from any particular intervention or approach, whilst keeping a clear focus on delivering equity. Headteachers work in partnership with other schools and their local authority whilst planning improvements and associated investment. 4.5 There is a continued expectation that funding will focus particularly on literacy, numeracy, health and wellbeing, and support the school’s priorities in raising attainment. All schools develop a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) outlining their PEF priorities and setting out both the universal and targeted approaches that will be adopted to achieve the expected outcomes. 2023/24 Allocation in Perth and Kinross 4.6 In financial year 2023/24, Perth and Kinross Council received £499,802 SEF and £238,875 CECYPF. Perth and Kinross schools were allocated £1,873,930 of PEF. This was allocated to 66 primary schools, 11 secondary schools and 1 special school.
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There are 3 primary schools that do not receive any PEF allocation due to them having no pupils eligible for Free School Meals as identified in 4.3.2. 4.7 In session 2023/24, a total of £1,757,973 of PEF was spent (94% of allocation). A carry forward of £115,957 was taken into the 2024/25 financial year. Guidance and Planning 4.8 The Scottish Government provide National Operational Guidance (Pupil attainment: closing the gap – Scottish Attainment Challenge 2022/2023 – 2025/2026) for each of the three funding streams. Revised Local PEF Guidance was issued to all Perth and Kinross schools in June 2023. This aligned closely with the Scottish Government’s changes in the allocation of SAC funding as reflected in the paper Scottish Attainment Challenge: framework for recovery and accelerating progress published in March 2022. Interventions 4.9 All three funding streams focus on a range of approaches to enhance the universal provision and targeted interventions for children and young people, with the aim of addressing barriers to learning and supporting the achievement of positive outcomes for those affected by poverty or who are care experienced. 4.10 In 2023/24, school PEF plans focused particularly on literacy, numeracy, and health and wellbeing, and this is expected to continue in 2024/25. Monitoring and Evaluation of Impact 4.11 All three funding streams are overseen by the Raising Attainment Board and its sub-groups. This oversight includes monitoring the impact of expenditure on the outcomes of children and young people through the focus on the Stretch Aims set out in the Perth and Kinross Council Raising Attainment Strategy 2024-2027. 4.12 PEF is allocated directly to primary, secondary and special schools within Perth and Kinross and the local authority is required to monitor and evaluate its use, including reporting to the Scottish Government. Individual schools reported on the impact of PEF interventions within their annual Standard and Quality Reports for 2023-2024. 4.13 In addition, all schools now measure the impact of their PEF budget through a bespoke tracking tool. This enables the identification of successful interventions and promotes the sharing of good practice.
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4.14 The School Improvement team provide support and challenge to schools in relation to raising attainment and closing the poverty related gap as part of their regular quality improvement work. Education Scotland’s Attainment Advisor also works with identified primary schools and secondary schools to analyse data in more detail and identify appropriate strategies for closing the poverty related gap. 4.15 The Research Analysis & Performance team continue to provide support to schools and central officers through the Analysis Suite which provides comprehensive data, including individual school data profiles. New interactive dashboard tools are currently in development which will further support schools in their analysis of data. 4.16 Schools have received support and training from Education Scotland’s Attainment Advisor to organise and understand their tracking and monitoring and evaluation data more effectively, and to use this data to inform interventions and improvement. Further training is being offered to schools in session 2024/25. 4.17 Every school PEF plan for session 2024/25 has been reviewed and analysed by the Education Scotland Attainment Advisor. Detailed feedback has been provided and plans are reviewed through regular quality assurance activities. Next Steps 4.18 To ensure that the use of these funding streams continues to be monitored and evaluated, Education and Learning staff will ensure that there is: • Analysis of quantitative data to establish the effectiveness of the spend and the impact for care experienced children and young people. • Focus on the quality and impact of the evidence-based interventions chosen to address attainment gaps for learners affected by poverty. • Regular reporting and analysis of progress to the Raising Attainment Board. Author Name Designation Contact Details David Macluskey Service Manager (Secondary Schools) FBSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk 01738 475000 Approved Name Designation Date Sheena Devlin Strategic Lead – Education and Learning 4 October 2024
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes/None Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement None Corporate Plan None Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement in terms of the following priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (ii). Corporate Plan 1.2 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Plan Objectives: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (ii).
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1.3 The report also links to the Education and Learning; and the Children, Families and Justice Services Vision, Values and Priorities in respect of the following key Priority area: • Learning and Achievement 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 N/A Workforce 2.2 N/A Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 N/A 3. Assessments 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. 3.1.1 The proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: (i) Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.2.1 The proposals have been considered under the Act; however, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.3 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act:
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• In the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets. • In the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaption programmes. • In a way that it considers most sustainable. 3.3.1 N/A Legal and Governance 3.4 N/A 3.5 N/A Risk 3.6 N/A 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 Service Managers and Officers within Education and Learning and Children, Families and Justice were consulted in the preparation of this report. External 4.2 The Education Scotland Attainment Advisor was consulted in the preparation of this report. 5. Communication 5.1 N/A 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above report. 3. APPENDICES 3.1 Appendix 1 – Scottish Attainment Challenge - Funding Report 2023-2024