Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling child poverty delivery plan 2026-2031 – annex 4: Child Poverty Measurement Framework (2026 update)
This annex to Bringing Hope, Building Futures: the third tackling child poverty delivery plan 2026 to 2031 provides an update on the measurement framework to monitor whether and how the drivers of poverty change over time.
A long term view to poverty reduction
On one side of the logic model, we have the drivers of poverty which are expected to impact directly on the child poverty targets. This is because the drivers focus on household incomes by increasing earnings or reducing the cost of living.
Ultimately, however, Scottish Government wants to eradicate child poverty to improve on children and young people’s long term outcomes (see Figure 2 on logic model above). As this is the final Delivery Plan approaching the 2030 targets it is important to monitor any potential long term impacts and repercussions on progress achieved. We are aiming to do so, by identifying indicators on the long-term consequences of poverty. These include: more children participating in high quality early learning, more children participating fully in school, more families living in warm homes, fewer children experiencing hunger, improved health and reduced health inequalities, and improved attainment.
Outcomes: The long-term consequences of poverty
Indicator
High quality early learning
Description and sources
Percentage of settings providing funded Early Learning and Childcare achieving Care Inspectorate grades of good or better across all four quality themes.
Source: Care Inspectorate Data
Indicator
Improved wellbeing/health inequalities
Description and sources
Proportion of children with a developmental concern at their 27-30 month review.
Source: Public Health Scotland
Indicator
Increased participation in school
Description and sources
Overall attendance rate (reduction in the gap between pupils from the most and least deprived areas of Scotland).
Source: School education statistics
Indicator
More families living in warm homes
Description and sources
Number of children in temporary accommodation.
Source: Homelessness statistics
Indicator
Food Security
Description and sources
Percentage of children with low or very low food security.
Source: Family Resources Survey
Indicator
Improved attainment
Description and sources
Reduction in the poverty related attainment gap under the All Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) measure (SCQF Level 4 or better, SCQF Level 5 or better and SCQF Level 6 or better).
Source: Scottish Government – School statistics
Indicator
Positive destinations
Description and sources
Percentage of school leavers in a positive follow-up destination (reduction in the gap between school leavers from the most and least deprived areas of Scotland).
Source: Scottish Government – School statistics
Contact
Email: TCPU@gov.scot