Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP Fiona Hyslop has been happy to share the news this week that West Lothian Council will receive £256,424 from the Attainment Scotland Fund to help close the poverty-related attainment gap.
The Scottish Government Announcement means that pupils living in West Lothian’s most deprived communities will benefit from targeted funding from the Attainment Scotland Fund.
To help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, schools and local authorities will have flexibility to redirect some of this funding from existing plans to best support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families, with a continued focus on equity in education.
The SNP MSP commented, “I am pleased that the Scottish Government has announced that West Lothian Council is to receive £256,424 investment to support pupils from deprived backgrounds.
“This latest funding boost for West Lothian demonstrates this Government’s ambition to transform our schools and ensure that every young person gets the chance to succeed in life, regardless of their background. The Education Secretary, John Swinney, has also handed councils the flexibility to use this funding to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic so no child gets left behind.
“There’s still a lot to do in reducing poverty and inequality in Scotland – but universal benefits like free school meals for our youngest pupils, free prescriptions and free higher education are helping keep more money in the pockets of hard working families here in West Lothian.”