HE children should not miss out on winter payment
A winter support fund for families and children was announced by the Scottish Government on November 30. This included £16m to give low income parents and carers of an estimated 156,000 children (in receipt of free school meals) a one-off £100 payment by Christmas. After making inquiries, home education families in the low income group found they were ineligible to receive this payment. This is despite senior stage home educated children (16-19, in full-time education) in that group being entitled to Educational Maintenance Allowance from local authorities. HES members asked their LAs and MSPs why they were not being included in the payment and they received inconsistent and unsatisfactory replies. The view of HES is that this payment should be given to the families of HE children who meet the…