#ScotLab15: Heads To Get Money For Poorer Kids

Head teachers of schools in deprived areas would get additional money to help poorer children, under a Scottish Labour government.

Party leader Kezia Dugdale says she will introduce a 'Fair Start Fund'  if elected, with decisions on spending handed to schools rather than councils

It would be funded by a 50p top rate of tax, which to date has been rejected by oppositon parties at Holyrood.

She also wants grants of up to £6000 per year for children in care to access higher education.

During her speech at the Labour Party Conference in Perth, she said: "Giving them [head teachers] the freedom to prepare with their staff a plan for how they will use this money. 

"And let’s tell them that this is not a fund for one year or two years or four years but for good.

"Because poorer children will always face extra barriers to achievement. And Scottish Labour will always give them that leg up to overcome it – not for four years but forever."

Among her other policies was a guaranteed living wage for carers, with the aim of making "caring a career that more will choose for the long term."