Schools across West Lothian are set to benefit from £5,438,330 between 2022 and 2023 in funding as part of the Pupil Equity Fund.
The half a billion pounds in funding is to be made available across Scotland over the next four years - the equity funding is to be spent at the discretion of teachers and school leaders to close the poverty related attainment gap in schools.
Allocations of the fund are based on the number of pupils from primary one to third year of high school who are known to be eligible for free school meals.
Fiona Hyslop, MSP for the Linlithgow constituency, commented:
“Every child in West Lothian deserves the very best start in life regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
“This £5,438,330 funding for schools across West Lothian will help close the poverty related attainment gap in education and help break the inter-generational cycle of deprivation.
“The funding support is welcome and highlights the Scottish Government’s ambition to continue to empower headteachers and teachers, who know their children and young people best.
“There’s still much we can do to reduce poverty and inequality but universal benefits like free school meals for our youngest pupils are helping keep more money in the pockets of hard-working families here in West Lothian.”
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