The Scottish Government commissioned an independent review of the VNS in spring 2022 to ensure that the scheme was working well for victims. The review published its report and an easy read summary in May this year. It made 22 recommendations for change of the scheme, including in relation to data, evidence and reporting, the information available and communications.

Since that time, we have been considering the report in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including criminal justice agencies and victim support organisations. We have used the information gathered from this programme of stakeholder engagement to inform development of our formal response to the review’s report.

We intend to publish that response towards the end of this year, or early next year, and for it to include information about what stakeholders have said to us on the recommendations, and our strategy for reform of the VNS.

Teachers employed in Scottish schools are required to be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) by law. They are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the GTCS Professional Standards which include having knowledge and understanding of the ways in which natural, social, cultural, political and economic systems function and of how they are interconnected to professional practice. Teachers must also take account of the Code of Professionalism and Conduct which sets out key principles and values for all teachers to uphold standards of personal and professional conduct, honesty and integrity.

Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National Digital Academy.

Initial conversations have been held within the National e-Learning Offer Working Group (which includes representatives from the RICs, EIS, e-Sgoil, WestOS and Education Scotland). In addition, a Discovery process has been undertaken with all 32 local authorities regarding the future of Glow – the National Learning and Teaching Platform which will inform considerations. Further engagement with these parties and others (including direct user research with teachers and learners where required) will take place during the development of the options.

Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National Digital Academy. A core team of four officials within Education Scotland are currently working together on the development of options. Other officials within Education Scotland and Scottish Government are also inputting as necessary to this work.

Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National Digital Academy. Accordingly, specific formal progress reports have not been produced or published.

The £140 million indicated in the Capital Spending Review was for the years 2023-24 to 2025-26. As you will be aware, the current Budget allocates £13m of capital funding for 2023-24. As reported by the Deputy First Minister on 21 November, that £13 million has been announced as part of the budget savings required to reach a balanced budget.

Under The Requirements for Teachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that teachers employed to teach pupils who are deaf or deafblind hold an appropriate qualification. Local Authorities are supported in implementing these duties through our national guidance . We are working with partners to update this guidance to ensure staff have the latest advice on routes to professional qualification.

The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Sensory Centre to provide advice and training to school staff on support for children and young people with specific communication and sensory needs, including BSL users. Education Scotland has also developed a professional learning resource which seeks to support practitioners to engage more effectively with BSL users.

On 6 November, we published the BSL National Plan 2023 to 2029, which includes an action focussed on increasing the opportunities for Teachers of the Deaf to gain the highest possible qualification in BSL. Progress will be overseen by the BSL National Plan Implementation Advisory Group. An update report will be published in 2026.

Modern Languages is one of the eight core curricular areas within Curriculum for Excellence, and British Sign Language (BSL) is one of the languages that can be provided within a school’s language offer to their pupils. While it is the responsibility of local authorities and schools to choose the specific languages covered within their language curriculum, the Scottish Government is taking a range of steps to promote and support BSL learning.

The 2016 Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy set out a series of national actions and local expectations to support local authorities in the development of their local digital learning and teaching offer. As set out in the strategy Education Scotland have ongoing engagement with local authorities, providing advice, support and professional learning and we know that many local authorities have made significant improvements in their use of technology in education in recent years.

Since publication of the 2016 strategy, both the technology and level of system maturity have moved on significantly, particularly following the pandemic. With a range of new and emerging technologies available, it is crucial that we continue to work with local authorities to ensure digital learning and teaching remains of a high standard now and in the future.

The refreshed digital strategy for education will build on existing practice and learning from the pandemic to support the ongoing evolution of the role of technology in Scotland’s education system.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that universities play in supporting innovation and contributing to economic and societal challenges, as we recently recognised in our National Innovation Strategy.