Briefing Document No 12 - Page 2 of 4
Good News for the Poor? The Scottish Executive's First Social Justice Annual Report - Continued.
Social Justice Annual Report - Summary
Milestones : Every child matters
1. Reducing the proportion of our children living in workless households
Action : New Deal, especially New Deal for Lone Parents
Trend : Gradual reduction from 20% in 1993 to 16% in 2000; more fluctuation in lone parent households, where percentage fell from 63% (1999) to 51% (2000)
2. Reducing the proportion of our children living in low income households
Action : New Deal, increased child benefit, Working Families Tax Credit, minimum wage
Trend : Under 20% of children were in households below 60% of median income in 1979-81; steady around 30% from 1997-99
3. Increasing the proportions of our children who attain the appropriate levels in reading, writing and maths by the end of Primary 2 and Primary 7
Action : Increased funding, smaller classes, more classroom assistants
Trend : Data too new to show trends; girls outperform boys, especially at P7
4. All of our children will have access to quality care and early learning before entering school
Action : Increased spending, especially in deprived areas (via SIPs), Childcare Strategy, Childcare Tax Credit
Trend : Target met for 4-year olds, plus 68% participation by 3-year olds
5. Improving the well-being of our young children through reductions in the proportion of women smoking during pregnancy, the percentage of low birth-weight babies, dental decay among 5 year olds, and by increasing the proportion of women breastfeeding.
Action : Various, including extra £6m to target women who smoke during pregnancy
Trend : Slow rise in breastfeeding and slight fall in smoking since 1996; birth-weight static since mid 1980s; no trend figures re dental decay
6. Reducing the number of households with children living in temporary accommodation
Action : Extra £5.3m to provide alternative accommodation
Trend : Marginal decreases from 1995-98, reversed in 1999-00
Every young person matters
7. Halving the proportion of 16-19 year olds who are not in education, training or employment
Action : New Deal, widening access to further and higher education (end of tuition fees), personal learning plans, Action Group to take forward Beattie Commission recommendations
Trend : Marginal increase from 13% - 14% 1999-00
8. All our young people leaving local authority care will have achieved at least English and Maths Standard Grades and have access to appropriate housing options
Action : New legislation to regulate care-leaver regimes
Trend : No data until 2002/3
9. Bringing the poorest-performing 20% of pupils, in terms of Standard Grade achievement, closer to the performance of all pupils
Action : Extra funding, early emphasis on literacy and numeracy, Education Action Plans, New Community Schools, New Deal for Schools (£115m)
Trend : Gap remaining steady though overall attainment is increasing
10. Reducing by a third the days lost every year through exclusion from school and truancy
Action : Alternatives to Exclusion Programme, Scottish Schools Ethos Network
Trend : Increase of 40% in Primary School truancy between 1997/8 and 1998/9, and steady increase in Primary School exclusions since 1996
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