Chamber and committees

Yes, we will publish a list of all awards through the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund. Our Enterprise Agencies will be publishing a short report on the performance of the funds they have managed and a list of all successful applicants in the coming weeks. The Agencies are currently processing appeals and we will publish the details following this stage of the process.

Through the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund, we are providing support unavailable elsewhere in the UK. Due to significant demand, we doubled the Fund to £90m and have since further increased it to £120m.

The Business and Physical Distancing guidance states that work carried out in people's homes is now permitted. This advises that it should only take place provided that the tradesperson, irrespective of profession, is well and is not showing coronavirus symptoms and neither they nor any of their household are self-isolating.

In all settings; physical distancing, good ventilation and hygiene measures should be adhered to. Consideration should also be given as to whether any of the occupants are shielding.

In addition; our return to work safely platform https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-returning-to-work/  makes reference to support available from Healthy Working Lives, part of Public Health Scotland) and the Health and Safety Executive.

Finally, Health Protection Scotland have published guidance for non-healthcare settings on measures that should be taken to minimise the spread of COVID-19 https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/ 

We are currently working on the development of guidance for gyms and other indoor leisure facilities in accordance with the timescales as set out in the Scottish Government route map, however, at present there is no specific dates for the reopening of any indoor sport facilities. The First Minister has confirmed that the next review of restrictions will take place on the 9 July and potentially move to Phase 3. All changes will be announced by Scottish Government in line with an assessment of available evidence and public health advice and as such indoor sport facilities will open no earlier than 23 July.

Respite and day care encompasses a wide variety of types of support. Some day care and respite support for people with learning disabilities has remained in place with appropriate physical distancing and hygiene measures, whilst other services have re-opened, or started to provide support in a different way.

For those services which had had to adapt during or after lockdown, design and development of support should be co-produced with people who use social care.

We recognise that communication will be an important factor in helping people understand why support may look different from before; and to be confident that it is safe.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs who have not attended local hubs will continue to be provided with bespoke learning activities which can be adapted to meet their individual learning needs. In some cases, this is supported by home visits, and helpline support from local educational psychologists and education managers.

To ensure digital equity for all children and young people, we are investing an initial £9m which will provide devices and connectivity for 25,000 learners across Scotland to help ensure as many children and young people as possible are able to connect with their schools, continue their learning, access support and engage with their peers.

Support and advice is available children and young people and their families though the Scottish Government's Parent Club website and a range of partner organisations including CALL Scotland, Dyslexia Scotland, Reach and Enquire.

One of our key priorities is to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs who may be finding this difficult time particularly challenging, continue to be supported with their learning, whether at home or at a local hub.

We have worked closely with local authorities, Education Scotland and other partners to develop and publish a range of guidance to support schools, local authorities and families during this time. This includes guidance for term 4 that gives an overview of the measures in place and steps being taken, at a national and local level, to support all children and young people’s learning, including those with additional support needs; and guidance to help local authorities, early learning centres and schools continue to support children and young people's learning during the coronavirus outbreak, including advice on the provision of blended learning for children and young people who need support.

Children and young people with additional support needs have been, and will continue to be, provided with bespoke learning activities from their schools and local authorities. Support and advice is also available for their parents and carers though our Parent Club website and from a range of partner organisations including CALL Scotland, Dyslexia Scotland, Reach and Enquire.

We will continue to work closely with local authorities, Education Scotland and other partners to ensure all children and young people continue to be supported with their learning and that their needs are fully considered as we look, and plan, ahead.

We have remained in regular contact with education authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic about how support is provided for children and young people, including those with additional support needs.

Local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the needs of the children and young people in their local area during these challenging times.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

On 31 March, we published guidance about the continued provision of care and support for the children of key workers and vulnerable children and young people, including those with complex additional support needs. On 21 May, I issued a joint letter with COSLA to all directors of education confirming that critical childcare will continue throughout June and the summer break to ensure ongoing provision for key workers and vulnerable children.

Local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the needs of the children and young people in their local area during these challenging times. In doing so, it is vital that all decisions taken at a local level align with the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 framework for decision making, be fully risk assessed and based on the individual needs of the child or young person.

We continue to engage with local authorities and third sector partners to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs get the support they need during this challenging time.

In addition, children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

Local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the needs of the children and young people in their local area during these challenging times.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs who have not attended provision have been, and will continue to be, provided with bespoke learning activities. In some cases, these are supported by home visits and helplines have also been set up to access support from local educational psychologists and education managers.

Some third sector organisations have been able to sustain their local and national services, while changing their model of delivery, in order to maintain support to children and young people as part of multi-agency plans. Specific advice is also available for parents and carers of children with additional support needs though the Scottish Government's Parent Club website and a range of partner organisations.

We continue to engage with local authorities and third sector partners to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs, including those with complex needs, get the support they need during this challenging time.

Under the current educational continuity direction, issued on 10 June 2020, schools remain closed except for the specific purposes of planning and preparing for the provision of learning and teaching of children and young people on the premises or remotely from August 2020.

We continue to engage with local authorities and third sector partners to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs get the support they need during this challenging time.

In addition, children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.