Chamber and committees

The Education Recovery Group, which I chair, is considering the recovery phase of the education system, including delivery of the assessment of National Qualifications in 2020-2021. Our priority continues to be to ensure fairness for all learners.

Each year, schools prepare young people for exam conditions using a range of approaches which are a regular part of the curriculum. This will continue to be an area of work that will be important for schools to give consideration to.

It will continue to be the responsibility of individual schools and local authorities to develop and deliver a tailored approach that supports the needs of young people in the next academic session, in consultation with parents and carers.

At the moment the guidance on the return to school for those shielding is provided within the re-opening of schools guide, which is available from https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-re-opening-schools-guide/  It provides a range of guidance in relation to the circumstances where a pupil themselves is shielding, or is living with someone who is shielding. For children who are themselves shielding it says “People with serious underlying health conditions are strongly advised to follow shielding measures to keep themselves safe and not to attend school in person.”

In my statement to Parliament, I stated that “we still need to protect those in our society who might not be able to attend school for health reasons. and to the continued need for blended learning as a contingency." Attached is a link to the official report which will confirm this http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12713&i=114985 .

In her statement to Parliament the First Minister said “In addition, before the end of July we will provide further advice to those who are shielding. If we can, we want to move away from the current position of blanket guidance for all shielding people to much more tailored advice about risk and how to mitigate it.”

There were 232 deaths registered by Sunday 7th June where coronavirus was the sole cause of death recorded on the death certificate.

For more information on how cause of death is determined please see:

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/
statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/deaths-background-information .

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/ 

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.

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.

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.