SNP promise ‘Welcome to School Bag’ to build on Baby Box

The First Minister has promised to introduce a “Welcome to School Bag” if the SNP returns to power in May.

John Swinney said the plans would build on the “fantastic success” of the Baby Box.

The Welcome to School Bag would be provided to all Primary 1 pupils in Scotland.

It would contain a school bag with a starter pack filled with “essential school items” including stationery, books, a water bottle and “resources to help families encourage literacy and numeracy practice at home”.

It follows a similar principle to the Baby Box which was introduced by Nicola Sturgeon in 2017.

Every new mother is entitled to a box, which is delivered a few weeks before her due date, and includes items such as books, clothes and a digital thermometer, while the box itself can be used as a sleeping space.

Mr Swinney said the SNP’s new plan would ensure children are supported at every stage of their life.

He said: “I am delighted to launch our fantastic new Welcome to School Bag today.

“Starting school is an exciting moment for every child and their family and I am determined that we do everything we can to support them at such a big transition point in their life.

“The Welcome to School Bag will be packed with items: stationery, books and other helpful resources, to help our children thrive when starting school.

“Building on the fantastic success of the Baby Box, Scotland’s Welcome to School Bag is just another step in ensuring that we are supporting our children at every stage of their life.

“The Baby Box has been transformational for so many families across the country and receiving it is now an important milestone for new parents. The Welcome to School Bag has the potential to have the same impact.

“That is what you get with the SNP – a government that is always on Scotland’s side.”

Paul O’Kane, Scottish Labour’s education spokesman, said the SNP had a “long list of broken promises when it comes to supporting schools and young people”.

He said: “At the 2021 election, they committed to giving free laptops to all school pupils in Scotland, but this pledge has since been ditched.

“They promised to expand free school meals to all primary school pupils but have failed to deliver.

“They insisted they would provide free bikes for all schoolkids who can’t afford them but have fallen woefully short on this ambition.

“And they vowed to eliminate the attainment gap, yet the gap between the richest and poorest pupils in our schools is wider than it was before the Covid pandemic.

“Amid their trail of broken promises, there has been a rise in the number of kids skipping school and families can’t get the support they need.”

“The SNP simply cannot be trusted. They make pledges before polling day with no intention of delivering. The people of Scotland deserve better.”

Scottish Lib Dem education spokesperson Willie Rennie said: “The SNP love to announce freebies at election time and then ditch them the moment polling day has passed.

“Last election it was bikes and tablets, this time it’s school bags.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats will have a Scottish education back to its best by banning phones in schools and hiring more pupil support assistants. That’s a real plan for change.”