Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2020
19 Mar 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Covid-19 (Education)
We supported the cabinet secretary in the difficult decision that he took to keep schools and nurseries open when many thought that they should be closed. That was right, and we support him in the equally difficult decision to close them now that it is right to do so. I also echo his tribute to teachers and other school and nursery workers who have kept our education establishments open in difficult times.
Many pupils have already been provided with study packs and access to online teaching resources, which will perhaps be critical given the decision on the exam diet and the importance of coursework. However, that varies from school to school and even from teacher to teacher. Surely there is a role for Education Scotland to provide some consistency of curriculum and learning opportunity nationally. What is Education Scotland’s role in this crisis?
Secondly, with regard to key workers, I hear what the cabinet secretary said—and indeed what the First Minister said earlier—said about flexibility of definition, but there is widespread confusion. Surely there is a case at least for a core list. Will key workers include supermarket workers, for example?
Finally, in the welcome agreement to continue public funding for private and independent nurseries, what assurances has the cabinet secretary sought and received from the sector regarding commensurate protection of employment and pay for those who work in those establishments?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by John Swinney on education: Covid-19. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of his statement, so th...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney)
SNP
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic is a matter of the greatest national importance, and the scale of the challenge in front of us is truly without preced...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement. I, too, thank staff who work in all places of childcare and learning. Yesterday, the First...
John Swinney
SNP
I thank Jamie Greene for the expression of support for the Government on these questions. He is absolutely right that the decisions are difficult to take. I ...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
We supported the cabinet secretary in the difficult decision that he took to keep schools and nurseries open when many thought that they should be closed. Th...
John Swinney
SNP
I am grateful to Mr Gray for his support for the difficult decision that we have made and for his tribute to teachers and all the other workers in the educat...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
An inordinate number of members want to ask questions and I do not think that we are going to get through them all. I suggest that, if people feel that their...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement and the commitment on the funding to deliver Government commitments from the private sector. Can we have a b...
John Swinney
SNP
A key point to be observed in all the issues that Clare Adamson raises is the general health advice that was given on Monday. At First Minister’s question ti...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
There will be a little change to what I said. I will take Willie Rennie, followed by Ross Greer.
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I thank the education secretary for advance sight of his statement, especially as he prepared it during difficult personal circumstances. With a 15-year-old...
John Swinney
SNP
I am grateful to Mr Rennie for his opening remarks. On the first point, about key workers, we must be able to leave room for local flexibility in establishi...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
Like my colleagues, I thank the Deputy First Minister for his work. I appreciate the work that councils are doing to look at cash and voucher systems and co...
John Swinney
SNP
The approach that we have taken, which has been welcomed by local authorities, is to give local authorities the maximum amount of flexibility to determine wh...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
The cabinet secretary will be aware of the significant impact that home learning can have on parents and guardians. Will he provide further assurances on the...
John Swinney
SNP
A variety of forms of support will be available from individual schools. Yesterday morning, before the Government made it clear that we intended to close sch...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am sure that the cabinet secretary and others will join me in welcoming the many offers that have been made on social media by current and former teachers ...
John Swinney
SNP
I very much welcome the offers that have been made by various members of the teaching profession. Obviously, we are in a completely different position in han...
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Our schools are really good at supporting young people who are transitioning from primary to secondary school. Tomorrow, there will be lots of primary 7 pupi...
John Swinney
SNP
Monica Lennon’s point on transitioning is really significant. Our schools have done a superb job in changing the ways in which we support young people to mov...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (Ind)
Ind
My question follows Monica Lennon’s point about transition. I declare an interest as the parent of a child with additional support needs who is moving from P...
John Swinney
SNP
Before I answer the specific point that Mark McDonald raises, I acknowledge the significance of the general disruption that the school closures will bring fo...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
The cabinet secretary has mentioned that many pupils will feel anxious during this time, which could have an impact on their mental health. Can he provide as...
John Swinney
SNP
We are in a difficult place as a country, because, as a consequence of the advice that we are all having to follow, people will have less social contact and ...
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I have two quick questions. Many workers in the early learning PVI sector will also be parents, or they might be self-isolating or off sick for other reasons...
John Swinney
SNP
Michelle Ballantyne sometimes has a beautiful turn of phrase. Edward Mountain is confessing that he is one of those people. I encourage him to try harder. La...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
With so many teaching and ancillary staff likely to be at home, probably for some months, what steps are being taken to maintain the skills of those staff? I...
John Swinney
SNP
Last night, I saw the director of education of Glasgow City Council being interviewed on television. It was interesting to hear her talk about how the counci...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
The cabinet secretary will be aware of my grave concern about the decision. Although I know that he will have taken it in the best of faith and with real ser...
John Swinney
SNP
I recognise the strength of feeling that Johann Lamont has on that question. I think that she knows how difficult it was for me to take this decision. Johann...