Improving The Educational Attainment Of Looked After Children- Additional Resources For 2001/2002

Description	Report on how Local Authorities used additional resources
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Official Print Publication Date
Website Publication Date	December 30, 2002

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IMPROVING THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN
- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR 2001/2002

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Summary

On 22 October 2001 Jack McConnell announced additional funding of up to 10 million to provide books, equipment and homework materials for every looked after child in Scotland. More than 11,000 children in care received between 500 and 2,500 worth of support.

The funding was intended to ensure that all looked after children are provided with an educationally rich environment. To achieve this local authorities have provided computers and software to support children's learning at residential school and at home; books for residential school libraries and book tokens for the children; desks, workstations and lighting to allow children to do their homework; and educational study areas in residential units. Money has also been spent on extra tuition for young people, particularly for those with specific needs. Projects such as Spark of Genius which provides intensive educational support for children at risk of exclusion have been enhanced by additional funding. Training has also been provided for staff on new technology, as well as programmes aimed at increasing staff awareness of the more general educational needs of looked after children.

The funding has also allowed local authorities to make further progress towards implementing three targets taken from of the Learning with Care report.

All looked-after children should receive full-time education -Basic school materials such as a school bag, pens and rubbers have been put together into packs for individual children to allow them to go to school properly equipped.

All looked after children should have a care plan that addresses their educational needs - local authorities have spent money supporting needs identified in individual children's care plans, for example by providing musical instruments, or materials for vocational courses such as hairdressing. They have also provided specialised computer equipment for young people affected by a disability.

All schools should have a teacher who is designated to champion the interests of looked-after children - the funding has been used to set up systems to improve communication and information sharing between departments, on children's needs and educational attainment. These improved links allow schools and local authorities to monitor attendance, attainment and exclusions as recommended in the Learning with Care report.

On 28 November 2002 the Executive published national figures on the educational attainment of looked after children for the first time. These showed that 60% of 16 and 17 year old careleavers left school with no qualifications. Scottish Ministers are determined to change this situation and build on the investment described in this report. We must ensure our looked after children reach their full potential. Further funding has been allocated to this in the Spending Review. Local authorities will report against the Learning with Care targets in the New Year, and we have commissioned Who Cares? Scotland to establish what looked after children themselves want from the education system. The Executive is committed to closing the opportunity gap for looked after children in Scotland. Raising their educational attainment to meet their ambitions and abilities is vital for success in this aim.

Introduction

On 22 October 2001 Jack McConnell announced additional funding to provide books, equipment and homework materials for every looked after child in Scotland. . More than 11,000 children in care were to receive between 500 and 2,500 worth of education materials. Up to 10 million was made available to these children across Scotland.

Resource allocations were based on the number of looked after children in each local authority's area. Distribution was 500 for each child looked after in a community placement and 2,500 for looked after children in local authority or independent homes, or in residential schools or secure accommodation. The funds were distributed on 31 December 2001. The allocations made to each individual authority can be found at Annex A.

What the money was for

The funds were to ensure that all looked after children lived in an educationally rich environment. Scottish Ministers were concerned that, as shown in the "Learning with Care" report, looked after children are failing to achieve the average educational standards for their age group and stage of development. Ministers wanted the money to be targeted towards improving educational attainment by helping local authorities to implement the plans they had for the education of looked after children and enabling them to maximise their potential.

In distributing the funds local authorities adhered to the principle that the money should follow the child. Greater priority was given to education provided through residential schools and to boost homework support and provision for children in residential homes as mainstream schools had already benefited from extra equipment funds.

The funding was paid under these conditions.

Funds should be spent on facilities, equipment and materials to improve the educational attainment of looked after children.

Where looked after children are accommodated or educated in schools or homes provided outwith the local authority area, or by the voluntary or independent sector, the local authority will distribute resources to those schools or homes. Such resources will be additional to existing or planned budgets for those schools or homes from 2001/2002.

Each authority should produce a report by the end of the academic year setting out how the funds have been distributed and used. This report should be available to establishments that provide for looked after children, parents, carers and other relevant agencies.

How the money was spent

Local authorities adopted largely similar approaches to the distribution of funding. The money for children looked after in residential care tended to be paid directly to the school or home in question as they were best placed to decide how the money should be spent effectively. Residential schools and care homes mainly chose to look ahead so that an investment was made in resources to benefit future young people, although they also met the specific needs of those currently looked after.

For those looked after children in community or home placements a variety of distribution methods were adopted. Most local authorities passed the funds directly to the carers after an application was submitted, ensuring that the spend catered to individual needs. Several also opted to provide generic educational packages to carers, which usually included a Personal Computer (PC) and educational software.

For those children educated at mainstream schools some local authorities opted to pass a proportion of the money directly to the school to purchase dedicated, specialist equipment for the children in question.

Approximately half of the money, or around 5 million, was spent on purchasing Information and Communication Technology (ICT). . Local authorities have purchased PCs, laptops, printers, educational software, filtered internet access and the associated on-line learning opportunities. Software like SuccessMaker featured heavily among educational purchases. This is an Integrated Learning System which provides individualised support in maths, reading, writing and spelling for pupils aged 5 to 14. Local authorities report that this has made a real difference to achievement.

Some miscellaneous ICT equipment such as digital cameras/camcorders was also bought. The aim being to allow children to work on general photography and video production which could also be incorporated into ICT work. In addition to targeting the children themselves funding has also been used to set up ICT systems to improve inter-departmental communication and information and allow information on educational attainment to be shared. To this end several local authorities in the west of Scotland, have made use of the Strathclyde Educational Establishment Management Information System (SEEMIS). The system is used to monitor and track pupil progress. These improved links between Education and Social Work management information systems allow the authorities to improve monitoring of attendance, attainment and exclusions as recommended in the Learning with Care report.

The funding has also focused on the purchase of books, library expansions and reference materials for looked after children. The main approach was to update and expand existing libraries in residential schools and care homes. Some local authorities arranged book token schemes which allowed children the opportunity to purchase their own choice of books. Other local authorities provided books suitable to their age directly to the children -.

Some authorities have improved homework facilities for young people by providing items such as desks, furniture, workstations, and appropriate lighting. Study areas have been developed and bedrooms fitted out to allow a greater number of young people to use them for private study.

A range of other equipment was also purchased with the additional resources. This included outdoor educational equipment, arts and crafts materials, early learning toys, materials to support personal social development, equipment for pre-vocational trades training and home economics facilities. Basic school materials such as a school bag, pens and rubbers were put together into packs for individual children, to ensure that every child went to school properly equipped to learn. Authorities also met the specific educational needs of individual children by providing equipment such as musical instruments, equipment for vocational courses such as hairdressing and specialised ICT equipment for young people affected by a disability. One child with severe mobility problems was provided with a special trike. This allows him to access the curriculum and engage with teachers and friends in a way in which he had been unable to do previously.

These capital investments were supplemented by funding for school trips to music, theatre and cultural events. Art schemes and coaching fees for dancing, swimming, and music also featured in the spend. Some authorities made arrangements for looked after children to access mainstream play and leisure services free of charge.

In keeping with the substantial investments in new technology local authorities funded a number of training programmes for staff and carers in the uses and hazards of new technology. Training was also provided for staff on promoting the education of looked after children.

Extra tuition was provided for young people, particularly for those with specific needs. Tuition funds were established which parents, foster carers and residential staff could access through the child's social worker for a 12 month period. This tuition tended to focus on literacy, numeracy and on preparation for exams. These initiatives tie in with reviews of the children's education plan and are clearly very valuable in terms of providing intensive input at specific times. Funding was also spent on young people leaving care in providing them with information on careers/further education and training opportunities.

Support was not limited to those looked after children of school age with educational assistance being spread from the pre-fives age group all the way to young people in further and higher education. Parents were provided with early reading equipment, arts and crafts materials and educational play equipment to allow them to work with pre-five children to provide them with a good start to their education and hopefully improve their future educational attainment. The grant was also used to directly support young people undertaking their various courses of study, for example to pay for accommodation in halls of residence and to assist with equipment and materials required for particular courses.

Other projects

Several authorities also opted to invest a proportion of their funding in specific projects aimed at increasing the educational attainment of looked after children. Among these were East Renfrewshire's Spark of Genius project which provided places for looked after children at risk of exclusion from mainstream schools. It involves intensive computer-based individual learning programmes which have proved successful in increasing attendance and raising attainment. The council also developed a project named "talking mats". This enabled social workers and other relevant staff to be trained in the use of a new communication system for young people with additional support needs. In this way staff and young people were helped to contribute more effectively to care plans and to express more clearly what their educational needs.

Glasgow City Council supported two major projects. They approved funding for the consolidation and expansion of an education and training programme for young care leavers, in partnership with John Wheatley College, Glasgow. The initiative involves staff from the college working alongside colleagues from Positive Futures to deliver a program of literacy, numeracy and social skills to young care leavers who are supported by Positive Futures. Positive Futures (Glasgow's Beattie Inclusiveness Project) was launched by Careers Scotland. Their aim is to work in partnership to support individual young people to overcome barriers to employment and help them achieve their potential. Funding has enhanced the programme and allowed for expansion of service to cover the whole city.

Glasgow also allocated funding to The Big Step, the Careleavers Social Inclusion Project, to produce and distribute another 1000 copies of an information fact file for young care leavers which has proved to be of great benefit for both the young people and supportive adults alike. It contains a variety of information about education, employment, health, services etc. In addition, the fact file is extremely popular with the young care leavers.

Aberdeen City Council invested in a number of Early Years initiatives. These involved parental participation in encouraging take-up of basic literacy and numeracy materials within the home.

Conclusion

Our feedback from local authorities has confirmed that this extra funding has been very welcome and well used. The information they have received from carers, staff and young people supports this, indicating that it has been efficiently targeted and has been of benefit.

The grant money has provided many excellent opportunities for looked after young people. It has helped improve educational provision and has increased the understanding and awareness of professionals for the particular difficulties which young people who are looked after can face.

Due to the additional resources, many looked after children have been able to achieve specific learning outcomes identified in their personal learning plans or individualised educational programmes. This has provided these children, and indeed their educators, parents and carers, with greater expectations for their future educational attainment.

Local authorities have built on existing initiatives to develop a supportive infrastructure to improve the life chances of looked after children.

The funding has enabled social work staff, teaching staff and carers to engage with young people in a range of ways from helping with the formal curriculum to providing emotional supports which enable young people to access education. Looked after children are experiencing tangible evidence that they are valued and supported.

The spending review has secured further resources aimed specifically at boosting educational attainment for the next two years. This will enable these gains to be further consolidated, ensuring that all looked after children in Scotland have the chance to reach their full potential.

Annex A

LOCAL AUTHORITY	ALLOCATION	REPORT SUMMARIES
ABERDEEN CITY	524,000	Residential - 127,659 was made available to eleven schools and two children's homes. Two personal computers have been installed in each children's home unit. Laptops where purchased for children leaving residential care. LAC in home and foster care- 500 allocation. Each foster carer/parent had to submit an application form. 32 PC have been installed in foster carers homes. 33 PC's have been provided for children looked after at home. Age appropriate learning boxes have been provided to each LAC at home. Craigielea children's home has had its library updated and expanded. YP left School - Block booking of lessons such as music, theatre and cuturals events. Driving lessons. Residential care has provided books for borrowing. Coaching fees provided for dancing and swimming. Purchase of musical instruments. Children with Disability - Home provision to allow children to use a PC with widget software. One child has been provided with a special trike. Art therapy has been provided for children with emotional problems. An individual tutoring scheme has been set up. A joint training scheme has been set up for school and social work staff and carers to improve the understanding of each others roles. The Education module SVQ111 in care will be made available to carers. Training in use of computers.
ABERDEENSHIRE	280,500	In broad terms expenditure has been spent on the following - computer equipment (biggest spend), other equipment such as desks and books. Funds direct to residential schools. Educational Trips - Popular use with children in foster care. IT equipment and software-220,000. Desks, chairs, desk lights etc- 5000. Books- 41,000. Extra tuition- 17,500. Of this-Children at home-106000. Children with foster carers- 52,000. Children with prospective adopters- 5,000. Children in LA homes- 32,500. Children in residential schools- 75,500. Children in secure accommodation- 12,500.
ANGUS	107,500	ICT provisions and educational resources for children in foster care. Enhanced education and care provisions for children in off-site educational centres and social work centres.
ARGYLE & BUTE	173,000	Foster care - Computers, printers, software and workstations were purchased for each foster carer, also provision of internet access for 12 months. 4 community support teams where supplied with PC, printer, internet access, 4 laptops and a laminator. Tow laptops, digi camera, laminator were purchased for family placement team to work with YP in foster care who don't have access to a computer. Residential - PC, Printer, internet, laptop for each. Digital camera and laminator, reference books and arts and crafts materials. Laptop and SEEMIS information to provide shared information on Educational attainment, provided by Education Department.
CLACKMANNANSHIRE	77,500	Support for children in Local Authority Home; Resource base for Looked After Children and their Families/Carers- 37,500- provided computer equipment, books and other educational materials for children accommodated at the council's home, Woodside. Established a bank of permanent resources accessible to all looked after children in Clackmannanshire and their families/carers. Will be available for loan to individual children in their family setting. Includes ICT, books and other educational resources. Individualised programmes of Support for Looked After Children- 20,000- this resource has been used to provide additional educational, study and social support for looked after children, particularly those at risk of school exclusion or those having difficulty accessing educational placements. This has included additional teaching support plus one to one support from other workers. It has also contributed to staff development and training in relation to the education of looked after children. Support for Children Looked After in Residential Schools- this represents the available grant for 8 looked after children in 5 residential schools outwith Clacksmannanshire (2,500 per child).
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY	221,500	Bids have been for computer hardware/software. Other bids included music, driving lessons, provisions of musical instruments, access to sports clubs and lessons (swimming, hockey, football schools). School trips, mechanics course, play equipment, craft materials. Bids amounting to 89,000 have been approved.
DUNDEE CITY	302,000	( 77,500) Residential - Purchase of capital equipment such as IT, outdoor educational equipment. Ensuring home work facilities are availble in res units. 2,500 was allocated to each resident. Training given to social care workers. FTE teacher has been seconded from Education Dept to provide assistance to Residential staff. Foster care - Packages were given to every fostercarer. Special ACE (Alternative Community Experience) carers each recieved a computer, hardware and software. IT training was also provided. Children looked after at home received 500 to be spent in accordance with their individual learning plans. 21,000 was spent on management costs and related expenditure.
EAST AYRSHIRE	202,500	Materials for parents with special educational needs. Study support base has been set up, with PC's, TV, VCR, work benches etc. Computers with a range of software for independent and supported learning. ICT equipment including books to assist in homework. Additional tuition in preparation for exams. PE kits and equipment. Learning packs, educational games, past exam papers. Study rooms have been set up in 2 residential units.
EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE	122,000	35,000 was spent on Residential schools. 2,500 per Child. The remaining money was used to purchase ICT equipment. Development of internet access to SuccessMaker for LAC- servers in two mainstream secondary schools were utilised to allow LAC to access schoolwork from home. Provisions of RM notebooks to Libraries. Secondment of a teacher for 20 days to assist in task with setting up training for residential staff in the use of the new resources. Educational resources for Children in Residential. Additional resources to library services. Basic school materials put together into packs for individual children.
EAST LOTHIAN	140,500	Children placed outwith East Lothian- A total of 21,500 has been given to fostercarers and residential schools, most monies have been spent on computers and software. Book Token scheme - All LAC children will receive a 10 pound book token each month for a 12 month period. Computer scheme - computer provision for fostercarers with children of schools age. Training for fostercarers on how to use computers. Access to computers at community resources. Sum of 50,000 was spent. Tuition fund - established which parents, foster careers and residential staff can access through the child's social worker for a 12 month period. Tuition related to literacy, numeracy and exam preparation. Funds have been give to local resources. Childrens Centre and outreach teaching service have been funded to purchase laptops. Children have received money to purchase equipment for their individual needs eg musical instruments. Training for staff has been set up.
EAST RENFREWSHIRE	70,500	8,000 has been spent on "Spark of Genius Project." Provides study support, using advanced technology, for disaffected YP who have been identified as at risk of being excluded from mainstream school. 12,370 was spent on providing computers and educational software for all foster carers. 8,000 was spent on "talking mats." This project aims to enable SW and other relevant staff to be trained in use of new communication systems for young people. Residential - 5 Payments of 2,500 has been made to residential establishments. The remaining 29,400 has been spent on young people who have left care in providing them with information on careers/further education and training opportunities.
EDINBURGH	885,500	Residential funds used- to connect each unit to the internet and to the Education Department's intranet system and to provide two personal computers to each unit; a training package has been developed for staff in residential units to provide them with the necessary skills to encourage and enhance the use by young people and in particular to develop their educational potential. Units have identified adaptations to their buildings which would allow an educational room or space to be set up; in one an adjoining garage has been converted, in another a staff office; the personal computers will be sited in these rooms which can also be used for homework, teaching or tutoring or to provide a quieter space for young people to read. In other units existing rooms have been redecorated and identified as educational areas. Units have identified books, games, computer software and other resources which will significantly improve the educational environment in the unit. YP in the community- wide range of uses in order to enhance confidence and self-esteem, encourage participation in school activities, provide additional tutoring and to assist at key transition phases into primary, high school and college or employment. Foster care- The majority of foster carers requested to use this money to buy a computer. Foster carers with a sibling group in placement were able to use the money for two or more young people to buy not only a computer but also educational software. As noted already the decision was taken at the start of this exercise to retain the computer in the foster carer's home. The intention was to enhance the educational richness of the foster carer's home. As well as providing general benefits to young people in placement, individual young people have benefited directly from the purchase of a computer. For example, a high school pupil has been able to take her laptop to her homework club and as a result continues to do work in her foster carer's home. Others have used this money to increase the capacity of young people's access to education, for example, by paying for art therapy or dance classes or help to increase a young person's self-esteem and confidence by developing an interest, for example in horse riding. A bank of educational equipment and software will be available to the Outreach Teaching Team and Social Work staff so that individual needs can be addressed.
EILEAN SIAR	47,000	Majority of money spent on enhancing the Home/School links and challenges of school homework. A number of " Alpha Smart" Mini Word Processors were purchased, computer hardware and software, purchase of additional tutor time for an individual child. Computer for a specific child.
FALKIRK	249,000	Residential - Money had been spent on providing laptops, hardware and software. School trips, additional speech and language therapy. Equipment and lessons were provided to meet individual childrens needs. The same applies to children accommodated at home or in the community.
FIFE	369,000	Residential- 81,500 has been allocated to residential schools to enhance educational provision. Money has also been used to purchse hardware/software etc. Schools have been funded to purchase new technology; computers etc. Community -48,000 has been allocated towards enhancing Educational attainment of LAC in the community - computers and software for children in foster care. One to One tuition and counselling services for children in the community.
GLASGOW CITY	2,045,500	Purchased Residential Placements (335,000). Childrens Units (399,562.62). Provision of Internet access and access to on-line learning opportunities, for young people. Looked After Children and Accommodated Children Support Service- increased link teacher support to young people in children's units, a wide variety of flexible and portable teaching resources were purchased. Support for Individual Young People. Kerelaw School and Secure unit (95,000). Fostercare - PC installment. Ed Resources for children of Pre School age. Educational resources for care leavers. Provision of ICT equipment for use by Looked After Children in Social Work establishments. Programme of outdoor activities for LAC. Purchase of additional resources from the Notre Dam Centre- assessments, group work, family work. Provision of additional educational software. Provision of tutorial support for LAC and young people. Support to young people in Further or Higher Education. Provision of a laptop. Provision of educational resources for other projects and services- Community Service Volunteer Project, the Halt Project, the Young Women's Project, the Children and Families Counselling Project, the Family Resource Unit.
HIGHLAND	302,000	72,000 was distributed to benefit children in residential schools. Purchase of outdoor equipment for two activity centres. Four specialist education units received equipment for children with specific needs. ICT equipment was purchased. Schools were given money for ICT equipment, art materials. 20,000 was given to four residential schools to provide rooms with personal computers. Play and Drama therapist. 404 X 25 of national book tokens for LAC. 10,000 was spent to provide funding for a teacher from Autism Outreach Service. Money was used for a number of individual requests made by children. Training for social work, education and health staff on personal education planning. Educational software (SuccessMaker). Foster carers received educational packages; these included PC's. A variety of schools have been funded for history and geography trips.
INVERCLYDE	208,500	Residential Units - Purchase of desktop and laptop computers, access to internet. Provision of staff training within the units to help them engage with YP in their use of IT equipment. Foster children were also provided with computers. LAC in the home received computer provisions within Social/Education service.The unit is staffed by both education and social service personnel. Computers have been provided to enhance this service. Computers have been purchased to form the basis of a "Lap Library". Lap Library is part of a project that is still being developed.
MIDLOTHIAN	188,000	Every child received a pack which included school bag, pens, rubbers etc. Aim was every child went to school properly equipped. Computers have been provided along with workstations and software. Specialist equipment - overalls and safety. Books (ranged accordingly). Games where given to encourage social skills. Some children where given money to pay for courses and private tuition. Musical instruments. Residential - Money was given to assist in the development of an education centre. Providing computers, games. Camping and outdoor equipment has been provided to allow staff and children to get involved in hillwalking, camping etc. An individual girl has had a sewing machine purchased for her.
MORAY	113,500	ICT equipment, licence for IEP (Individualised Educational Programme) Writer 2 has been purchased for each of their schools and each school will attend an in-service training day. 4 children currently studying for higher education will be loaned a PC laptop for the duration of their Higher Education Studies. The three children's homes in Moray were allocated 25,000 to develop their range of ICT and general educational resources. 12,500 was allocated to out-of-Moray residential establishments.
NORTH AYRSHIRE	365,000	Payments to residential schools 80,000; ICT equipment 73,400; children's units 44,000, toy library 20,000, staff development 4,000, musical equipment and lessons 10,000; funds allocated to mainstream schools 116,300; extra curricular activities 17,300.
NORTH LANARKSHIRE	523,500	Residential - 2500 per child was given to residential schools. It was agreed that the schools where in the best position to decide how the money was spent. Development of an educational study area, educational resources were purchased- computers, software, books etc. An ED resource centre for LAC has been created. The grant funds were used partially to fund the centre and buy educational materials. Schools with LAC will be provided with ED resources such as ICT, software and staff resources. Joint Education/ and Social work establishments were funded to purchase appropriate resources and staff training. Local Authority is setting up ICT systems to improve interdepartmental communication and information. Some funds were transfered for Social Work to buy software and hardware.
ORKNEY	19,500	Residential - 2,166 was sent directly to each establishment. Computer equipment was bought. Specialist equipment was bought for one young person attending a college course. Age appropriate educational material was purchased: video, books, games etc. Home tuition to young person with complex learning and behavioural needs.
PERTH & KINROSS	113,500	Residential schools have been allocated 2,500 for every child. Project management team established in Jan 2002 to collate information and allocate funding. A number of young people have now left school and a few have been re-integrated from residential school. The balance of funding will be used to support re-integration project, the local schools they are now attending and extra curricular activities which are likely to enhance their educational experience. Some resources purchased practical equipment eg hairdressing college course. Carers will be provided with ICT facilities for children to use in the home.
RENFREWSHIRE	408,500	Enhancing educational provision for pre-school LAC (25,000)- has been fully allocated to authority's 10 pre-five centre's to provide resources for LAC attending their establishments (books, materials & equipment). Improving electronic links between SW & ED(20,000)- All schools have SEEMIS information system. Social Work has SWIFT. The setup & implementation costs for linking the 2 have been paid. Children's units to be provided with external technology link to enhance communication about the needs of LAC- within the next few months. Making childrens units more educationally rich (70,000)- Purchased educational materials, some specific projects or educational trips for YP. Further allocation for sport & ed activities over summer holiday. Purchase of range of books & ed materials for units. Some further funds for specific provision for individual children. Making foster placements more ed rich (53,000)- 14 foster carers provided with new technology packages including computer, printer and scanner. Basic and specialist software. Books & educational equipment. Specific provision for individual children. Training programmes for staff on promoting the education of looked after children (20,000). Training for staff and carers in using new technology (10,000). Enhancing resources for the LAC education project (10,000)- Laptop computers and funding which will enable the service to purchase ED materials. Additional Support to LAC in mainstream and special schools. (75,000). Funding for Children with Special Talents (15,500) - funding used for a range of sporting, arts and drama activities for children in both residential and foster care section. Education of Children placed in Residential Schools (70,000) - Residential schools where asked to submit plans of how the expenditure would be spent. Many proposals involved developments related to new technology, software and other educational materials. Tuition and supported study also featured.
SCOTTISH BORDERS	120,500	Residential 27,500 - 2500 per child. Requests where made predominantly for computer networking and software, sports and musical equipment. Children affected by disability - an allocation of 11,150 was allocated to children with disabilites. Funds where used to purchase additional toys and movement materials that would benefit all children who receive respite care. Schools - money was allocated to schools. Most schools requested computers, laptops, early learning toys and materials to support personal social development. Fostercare - 16 computers were purchased with internet access, CD-ROM and printers. Carers also requested computer software, books, art materials and early learning toys. Individual requests where made for lessons including guitar and riding lessons. Barnardo's was allocated 5,350 for each child place by Scottish Borders outwith the authority. Glenview young person unit received 10,000 to purchase computers, CD-ROM, art and crafts materials, musical instruments etc.
SHETLAND ISLANDS	27,000	Children looked after at home - computer equipment was purchased and installed in offices in the North Mainland that were shared with community worker. Equipment was also installed for the Bruce Family Centre. Both offices are used by social work to undertake individual work with YP. Various learning materials where also purchased. Fostercare - 4 Computers were purchased and installed in homes. Residential units - computers and internet access. Digital camera, scanner and colour copier were also purchased. Extra Funding was used to buy a canoe and sailing boat.
SOUTH AYRSHIRE	130,500	Full residential allocations passed to residential schools that had South Ayrshire child. Within own residential unit council made general improvements while still allocating 500 per child for their individual plan. Two rooms were upgraded to provide greatly enhanced study/learning facilities, one as a computer suite/library/study with appropriate software and reference/text/reading books the other as an expressive arts/crafts room with appropriate materials. For young people attending local schools the two dedicated LAC teachers linked with schools to provide ideas and advice on resources. 60 computers were purchased as well as the 'SuccessMaker' software package, additional tuition, music/riding lessons and outward bound/sports motivation courses. Early literacy and numeracy packs were offered to pre-school children at home or in foster care. Training/awareness sessions were also offered to parents and carers.
SOUTH LANARKSHIRE	400,500	Approach combined strategic element so that an investment was made in resources to benefit future YP, with degree of flexibility to accommodate needs of current YP. Residential schools- equipment for pre-vocational trades training, extending the networking of the campus to the residential units, educational software including SuccessMaker. Gielsland linked spend to child's I.E.P. ICT investment. Link between Education&SocialWork management infromation systems to allow monitoring of attendance, attainment& exclusions. All council residential units now equipped with appropriate furniture, lighting and ICT. Greater no. of YP now able to use bedrooms for private study. Wide range of books have been purchased, also musical instruments, games and arts and crafts materials. Additional funding for extra curricular and outdoor activities.
STIRLING	163,500	Residential - equipment was provided to meet the children's individual needs, such as equipment for hairdresser training. Money was also spent on computing and home economics facilities, gym equipment, libraries and reference materials and improved homework facilities. Respite care - individual purchases such as computers, therapeutic help (music therapy), inclusion in mainstream play and leisure services. Art scheme was held over the summer. Total 35,000 was spent on 14 Children. Fostercare - computer project was set up. Foster carers are being equipped with PC. Library of educational software. Intial ICT training courses set up. Total 40,000. 1 foster child received driving lessons. Residential provisions - enhanced educational environments. Computers have been installed, study room created. Equipment purchased for staff to use for outreach work. Laptop computer purchased. Total 17,500. Home supervision - variety of lessons e.g. horse riding, computers, educational materials including toys, games and art materials. Trips with teaching staff to Old Trafford football club and Alton Towers.
WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE	265,000	Residential Schools 65,000- The biggest area of investment by the schools was in the area of new technology and computer equipment. This covered: computer hardware and software, internet Connection, computer equipment, e.g. tables, printers, scanners, etc. Video equipment. Most schools also used the grant for restocking their libraries (academic and non-fiction books) and general educational resources. This also includes musical equipment for individual young people and funding for lessons. Funding was also made available for: creating quiet spaces in units for study and homework and relaxation zones. Residential Units - 67,500 All units received new computer equipment for sole use by young people. This covered: new computers, printers, scanners and equipment like tables, etc. Money was spent on the creation of quiet areas in units for the use of the equipment for study, homework, etc. All units have been hooked up to a permanent internet connection with payment for the first year's usage. Have also purchased access to a web resource for accommodated children from a local company Spark of Genius (Training) Ltd. This entails young people getting access to a web site with an electronic library of teaching materials and lessons. The extra funding also covered the following: each units having a stock of reading material (educational and leisure); educational software; subscription to magazines; educational equipment (packs of material for each young person admitted); tutoring for individual young people (including homework sessions in units); rewards for young people achieving exam results. Foster Care/Throughcare 40,000- the purchase of computers and associated equipment for all foster care placements; the purchase of computers and equipment for young people in Supported Lodgings placements who are in further education; purchasing supplies of reading materials (educational and leisure) for children in Foster Care placements; education programmes (Computer) for young people in foster care; tutoring for young people to help them catch up; rewards for young people as an encouragement to apply themselves in school and with homework/exams, etc.
WEST LOTHIAN	312,500	Children looked after and not accommodated - Money dispersed through the child's school, equipment such as PCs and sports equipment bought. Residential/ Secure - units have provided a plan for the spend of their grant, which includes the installation of computers, behavior support officer, homework research facilities and setting a fitness room. Foster/Residential- ICT hardware and internet access with appropriate safeguards. Purchase of books.

TOTAL	9,479,000

The Scottish Government

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