The NASUWT, the fastest growing teachers’ union in Scotland, has called on the Scottish National Party to support the NASUWT’s campaign to poverty proof the school day and ensure that no child is denied access to education opportunities on the basis of their parents’ ability to pay.

Speaking at the NASUWT fringe meeting ‘Poverty Proofing the School Day’ at the SNP Conference in Aberdeen, NASUWT National Official Gareth Young highlighted NASUWT research showing that parents are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the rising costs of sending their children to school, including school uniforms, equipment and school trips.

The NASUWT called on the SNP to support its work to tackle the rising costs of education for families by working with schools and parents.

Also addressing the fringe meeting was John Dickie, Director, Child Poverty Action Scotland. The meeting was chaired by Richard Bell, NASUWT Scotland Vice-President.

Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“The NASUWT has undertaken an annual survey of parents and carers on the costs of education since 2012.

“The evidence shows that the costs associated with attending some schools are now acting as a barrier to parents accessing their school of choice for their children.

“The NASUWT believes that educational experiences that promote opportunity and achievement should not be determined by parents’ ability to pay.”

Jane Peckham, NASUWT National Official Scotland, said:

“We are calling on the SNP to work with the NASUWT, local authorities and schools to ensure practices are in place which are cognisant of the financial pressures on parents and which ensure all children and young people have equal access to all educational opportunities.”

John Dickie, Director, Child Poverty Action Scotland, said:

“We pride ourselves on having a free education system, but in reality there are a huge number of costs that children and parents face at school. We have got used to the fact that there are all these costs and we welcome the fact that there is now greater recognition of the issue of these costs.

“We need to get back to the idea that what schools offer must be genuinely free and accessible to all.”