The 2026 report ‘Local Authority Examples of Good Practice in Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People Impacted by Poverty’ deepens the understanding of how Strategic Equity Funding (SEF) and Care Experienced Children and Young People funding (CECYP) is improving outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty, with a focus on tackling the poverty-related attainment gap.

In September 2025 the Scottish Government, Education Scotland (ES) and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), held a national conference for all Directors of Education and colleagues from local authority central teams. This was an opportunity to mark 10 years of the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) programme, reflect on the impact SAC has had over the past decade and to bring local authority directors and central teams together, alongside colleagues from SG, ES and ADES to share impactful practice and look ahead, reflecting on how best to continue work to close the poverty related attainment gap.

This document draws together examples, put forward by local authorities, of the range of work supported by the Scottish Attainment Challenge that is taking place across the country - including some specific examples in individual schools - across the country to improve outcomes for children and young people experiencing poverty and/or children and young people experiencing poverty.

Download the report

PDF file: Local Authority Examples of Good Practice in Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People Impacted by Poverty (5.3 MB)