Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The next item of business is a statement by John Swinney, who will provide a Covid-19 update on schools and remote learning arrangements. The cabinet secreta...

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney) SNP

Scottish education is today focused on ensuring that our children receive the high-quality learning to which they are entitled despite the current challengin...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Thank you. The cabinet secretary will now take questions on his statement. We must conclude around 12.30 for First Minister’s question time, so I ask members...

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement. Conservative members, too, thank everyone in education who is delivering learning and chil...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

That was a lot of questions, cabinet secretary, but please be succinct in your response.

John Swinney SNP

I do not accept that characterisation by Jamie Greene. He does a disservice to education professionals the length and breadth of the country who are, at this...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of his statement. It is clear that teachers in difficult circumstances have worked hard over recent months in p...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I remind members who are frowning that front-bench spokespeople have a given amount of time to ask their questions—so you can cheer up, Mr Coffey.

John Swinney SNP

I welcome Iain Gray’s recognition of the good work that teachers have done. They have made a superb effort in order to be ready for the circumstances in whic...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I have 20 minutes, and 14 members want to ask questions. You do the arithmetic—it is important that you do so, given that the statement was on education. I ...

Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP

We know that many parents and carers are concerned for young people. Although schools are open for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, there...

John Swinney SNP

It is important that schools make individual judgments about the needs of pupils who have additional support needs. For some of those young people it can be ...

Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Con

Is it acceptable that some parents in my constituency are reporting that their children are being offered no live element of home learning? What is the cabin...

John Swinney SNP

I set out in my statement that guidance has been issued by Education Scotland on the expectations on remote learning. That guidance was published on Friday a...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

Remote learning is key to ensuring that pupils continue their education. Can the Deputy First Minister confirm the minimum number of remote-learning hours th...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

That was three questions.

John Swinney SNP

As I said in my answer to Mr Mundell, guidance has been published on the expectations on remote learning, which will be a mixture of direct live lessons and ...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I will ask the cabinet secretary about the national qualifications group. The document on teacher assessment for national awards was published in October, an...

John Swinney SNP

It is important to stress that the guidance will be published by the national qualifications group and not exclusively by the SQA. The SQA is working collabo...

Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) SNP

On the issue of key workers, I have been contacted by some parents in my constituency who are a bit confused about the position that is being adopted by Fife...

John Swinney SNP

We have set out three categories of key workers. Category 1 includes, essentially, health and social care workers who are critically important to the Covid e...

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

What discussions has the cabinet secretary or Education Scotland had with BBC Scotland and other television channels about additional support for pupils whos...

John Swinney SNP

There has been good discussion between Education Scotland and BBC Scotland, and I spoke to the director of BBC Scotland about all of those issues last week. ...

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

Families’ lives and livelihoods revolve around their childcare arrangements. The Government cannot simply gamble on employers being understanding and flexibl...

John Swinney SNP

We are in quite exceptional circumstances just now, and I am afraid that we have to ask employers to work with us in this respect. We have put into law a req...

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) SNP

I am delighted to hear of the considerable efforts that are being made by my former colleagues in Education Scotland to support learning and teaching at this...

John Swinney SNP

Education Scotland published that detail on Friday and, as I indicated in one of my earlier answers, directly communicated it to all members of the General T...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

Some special schools are operating as normal, having designated all pupils as vulnerable. The complex needs of their pupils might justify that decision, but ...

John Swinney SNP

The point that Mr Greer makes about some staff—it will not be all—who attend to the personal care needs of young people in special schools raises significant...

Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

I appreciate that the cabinet secretary is making temporary financial support available to the providers of day care for children. He says that he is conside...