Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 June 2025
18 Jun 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
NHS Lothian (Education and Tutoring for Sick Children)
Health and Social Care
Section 14 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 places a statutory duty on local authorities to make special arrangements for any child or young person who is absent from school for a prolonged period, due to ill health, to enable them to continue their education while they are away from their regular school.
I confirm that officials have discussed the matter with the City of Edinburgh Council. NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council recognise their responsibilities under the statutory duty, and they have set up the Little France teaching centre within the hospital. The centre uses teachers who are employed by the council, and that service is available for all children and young people during their stay in the hospital.
In the same item of business
7. Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the health secretary has had with ministerial colleagues and NHS Lothian regarding the provision of education...
The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health (Jenni Minto)
SNP
Section 14 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 places a statutory duty on local authorities to make special arrangements for any child or young person who i...
Craig Hoy
Con
The minister should be aware of the case involving Lawrence, a constituent of mine who suffers from leukaemia. Lawrence experienced the distress of watching ...
Jenni Minto
SNP
In response to Mr Hoy’s follow-up question, I was aware of the situation involving his constituent Lawrence. As I believe that Ms Gilruth said when Mr Hoy pr...
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I have been contacted by constituents who share Mr Hoy’s concern about the issue. Councillors say that the policy regarding learning for sick children who at...
Jenni Minto
SNP
Foysol Choudhury is right. Although the Scottish Government has provided national guidance on the continued responsibility to provide education while a child...