Children from poor families in Renfrewshire who are struggling to keep up with school work are to benefit from a major funding boost.

The Scottish Government is to pump £3.5 million into schools in the area to help deprived children get a better chance in life through improved literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing.

The money coming to Renfrewshire is part of more than £45m in funding for primary and secondary schools in 2017/18 to help close the poverty-related attainment gap in Scotland.

The funding boost has been welcomed by Councillor Jim Paterson, who is Renfrewshire’s education and children’s services convener.

He said: “Renfrewshire is ambitious for our pupils. We want all young people to reach their full potential, regardless of their background.

“Reducing the impact of poverty on attainment is a key priority for the council and being part of the Scottish Government’s Attainment Challenge, supported by the Pupil Equity Fund, is a big deal for Renfrewshire’s children.”

Cllr Paterson said the council has already laid a foundation for addressing poverty-related impacts on attainment between children from low income families and more affluent families through £2m invested into a range of initiatives providing young people with advice and financial support over the last two years.

He added: “The addition of more than £3.5 million into Renfrewshire schools will help us target more resource where it is needed, as well as ensuring all schools benefit from this funding.”

However, the funding announcement has sparked criticism from opposition parties.

The Scottish Greens said it was not enough to reverse “the decade of cuts to teachers, support staff and resources.”