Chamber and committees

There is potential for individuals who deliver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, John Muir Awards and the Leave No Trace initiatives to support the reopening of schools by helping to upskill school staff in relevant ways. However, decisions as to whether to utilise individuals in this way rest with individual schools and their associated local authorities. We would expect these decisions to be made in line with local priorities and circumstances.

As part of the Test and Protect system, to protect patient confidentiality, close contacts are informed that they may have been exposed, so that they can be given relevant health information and told to self-isolate in order to interrupt chains of transmission. Identifiable data about index cases will not be disclosed to their close contacts or employer without prior consent. What constitutes identifiable data will differ, depending on the case, and expressing details to known contacts will be at the professional discretion of the contact tracer handling the case.

Six Non-Executive Directors have been appointed to a newly created Board. Members have a range of relevant skills and experience and will pro-actively assist and advise the current Turnaround Director with the restructuring and development of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd over the next 12 - 18 months. Information about Board members can be found here.

The Covid-19 Education Recovery Group was created to make the best decisions possible for Scotland’s children and young people, families and education staff during these uniquely difficult times for the whole of our society. The Group's membership includes representatives from COSLA, local authorities, professional associations, parent representatives and other stakeholders in Scottish education.

The Group undertook work collectively to produce comprehensive supporting guidance for schools returning under a blended learning model, in order to restore some form of face-to-face learning in view of the expected ongoing challenges in suppressing Coronavirus.

However, because of the efforts of people staying at home and remaining vigilant, we have recently seen Scotland make significant progress in suppressing Coronavirus. We therefore believe that, if we stay on track, we should now prepare for pupils to return to school full time from August.

As part of the work of the Covid-19 Education Recovery Group, we recently published the Coronavirus (COVID-19): re-opening schools guidance which includes important sections on personal hygiene.

The guidance states that adequate facilities should be available for hand hygiene, and gives as an example the provision of alcohol based hand rub at key areas. It also encourages frequent washing/sanitising of hands. Local authorities are responsible for developing local delivery plans which should be informed by this guidance.

We have committed to keeping the guidance under constant review and updated based on the latest advice from Health Protection Scotland .

The Scottish Government is working closely with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) to ensure that all probationary teachers, who start their probationary year in August, will receive the support and guidance they require in these unprecedented times.

The GTCS, working in partnership with Local Authority probation managers, are responsible for the support provided to probationers on the Teacher Induction Scheme. In order to provide all new probationers with personal and professional support, GTCS has commissioned the development of specific health and wellbeing resources for new probationer teachers which will be available by mid-June 2020.

GTCS will also work in partnership with probation managers to identify individual probationers who may require bespoke support arrangements.

The Scottish Government has already provided over £2.3 billion of support to businesses across Scotland and is continuing to keep the needs of business under review as we work to restart the economy safely in line with our Routemap.

We are working closely with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) to ensure that the necessary support and guidance is available for all probationers and their mentors in these unprecedented times. The GTCS has reduced the in-school element of the probation programme so that anyone currently on the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) will be required to complete a minimum of 120 satisfactory days at school by the end of the school session in June 2020 to enable them to achieve the standard for full registration.

GTCS will also work in partnership with probation managers to identify individual probationers who may require bespoke support arrangements.

The Coronavirus (COVID-19): re-opening schools guide sets out that the use of PPE by staff within education and childcare facilities should be based on a clear assessment of risk and need for an individual child or young person. In addition, it sets out where face coverings should be used in relation to school transport. This guidance is being kept under constant review and any further updates will be made in line with scientific advice.

Scottish Government, COSLA and local government partners have agreed that it is vital that decisions about key workers and the childcare places allocated are taken locally.

Local authorities are responsible for providing critical childcare for key workers and deciding who qualifies for the provision. Critical childcare is generally being provided in the area where families live, however there may be exceptions to this where local authorities are agreeable.