Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29289 on 17 June 2020. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

There is potential for outdoor settings to be utilised more often as schools reopen. The outdoors provides greater space for education to be delivered whilst physical distancing is in place.

In light of this, Scottish Government officials have held discussions with a number of organisations within the outdoor learning sector and this includes organisations that run outdoor residential centres. Those discussions have covered the potential for residential centres to be used to help schools deliver learning at a safe physical distance and for the experienced staff at centres to help teachers to effectively deliver learning in an outdoor environment. We continue to engage with the sector.

In accordance with the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 the responsibility for the delivery of education rests with individual local authorities. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including on outdoor learning, on the basis of local needs and priorities.

The majority of authorities’ education funding is provided via the General Revenue Grant. However, additional funding is provided via the £750 million Attainment Scotland Fund which includes Challenge Authorities funding, an additional schools programme and Pupil Equity Funding. This funding can be used flexibly to achieve equity in education. This can include spending on outdoor learning experiences.

In addition, in May 2020 the Scottish Government announced funding of £159,000 to expand Living Classroom’s Virtual Nature School programme across the country. This work will provide professional training and learning materials to early learning and childcare practitioners looking to take learning outdoors.

The Scottish Government has also provided funding to support the development of the ‘Going Out There’ and ‘Out To Play’ guidance documents. These documents provide educators with a comprehensive guide to all the practical and legal considerations needed to take learning outside and beyond the learning estate.

Following the closure of schools and to assist with planning for the blended learning approach, Education Scotland has also developed an outdoor learning ‘Wakelet’. This provides educators with access to resources, guidance and advice relating to outdoor learning.

Scottish Government officials met with a number of third sector organisations including Scouts Scotland; Girlguiding Scotland; The Boys’ Brigade; and the Outward Bound Trust on Friday 29 May 2020 . The meeting focused on challenges that third sector run outdoor education centres have encountered during lockdown. During that meeting third sector organisations put forward an idea of how to help upskill school staff in providing outdoor learning.

We are currently considering the challenges and opportunities raised during the meeting of the 29 May and we are committed to keeping Scouts Scotland; Girlguiding Scotland; The Boys’ Brigade; and the Outward Bound Trust informed of next steps.

Decisions relating to school trips, whether to residential centres or other settings, rest with schools and local authorities. This approach allows guidance to be developed which best fits local circumstances.

Scottish Government officials have been involved in recent discussions with organisations that offer residential outdoor experiences. The Scottish Government is considering a proposal from the residential providers to develop guidance on accessing these facilities in the future and we will update relevant partners in due course.

NHS Lothian was selected to develop proposals for the national Adolescent Learning Disability (LD) Unit following a tendering process.

The LD Service proposal was considered by the Corporate Finance Network and NHS Board Directors of Finance in November and December 2019. The proposals have now been submitted to NHS Board Chief Executives and they have noted the request for designation of the inpatient units, giving their approval in principle.

There are still several planning and approval processes to complete before the capital and other support for the LD Unit is established.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29407 on 10 June 2020. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

National Records Scotland (NRS) are responsible for publishing the Scottish drug death statistics on an annual basis. The last publication made by NRS was in July 2019.

We are currently awaiting details from them with regards to the date of publication for the 2019-2020 drug death statistics, which will include information on the number of recorded drug-related deaths during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Drug Death Taskforce (DDTF) and officials are in regular contact with Police Scotland around suspected drug deaths during this time.

There are no current plans to establish a National Child Psychiatry Clinical Network. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29736 on 18 June 2020 for information about plans for a Managed Clinical Network for LD Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, which will also include within its remit, support for under 12s using the National LD Child Psychiatry Inpatient Unit.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

NHS National Services Scotland has agreements in place with NHS England for cross border admissions to specialist Learning Disability Adolescent Psychiatric Units for those with severe and profound learning disabilities. These will remain in place until the new National Learning Disability Inpatient Unit is open. Children and young people with mild to moderate learning disabilities have access to the National Child Psychiatry Inpatient Unit and the Regional Child and Adolescent Inpatient Units.