Hansard

The challenge in summing up a stage 3 debate for my own member’s bill is to prevent that from becoming akin to a gushing Oscar acceptance speech. I will therefore try to marshal my thank yous and to make some points. I begin not just by thanking members for their contributions this afternoon but by thanking the Parliament more broadly. The passage of the bill has been a genuinely cross-party effort, and the bill is better as a result of not just that engagement but the overall parliamentary process: the definitions are tighter; there is flexibility in the way that it is framed; and the scope is right, because nursery classes have been removed from it. Above all else, as members from across parties have pointed out, it will make our children safer, provide clarity for practice and treat the issue with the seriousness that it deserves.

On that cross-party effort, Miles Briggs’s contribution in particular has been very helpful. He has taken a real interest in the topic, as has Willie Rennie, whom I also thank for his on-going dialogue.

Indeed, I thank the entire Education, Children and Young People Committee. Its work was diligent, detailed and critical to providing the scrutiny that allowed the bill to be improved.

I pay tribute to Douglas Ross. He has been a diligent parliamentarian throughout, and I agree with him on what the Parliament needs to aspire to being when it comes to how it works and how contributions are made. That is very important.

I pay tribute to the non-Government bills unit. When we think about what the Parliament should be, the member’s bill process is critical. Roz Thomson and her team do an outstanding job.

I pay tribute to the children’s commissioner and third sector organisations—in particular, Enable—for the work that they have done in shining a light on the issue and providing the impetus.

I also thank the trade unions. They have not always been welcoming of the proposal, and I understand why. It is a difficult topic. However, I have no doubt that the bill has been improved by their engagement and has tighter definitions. I am also mindful of the bureaucracy and workload about which they have raised concerns, and of the on-going resourcing and support that teachers and classroom assistants require.

Let us be in no doubt that this is not the final word on the topic. Indeed, following 7 May, it needs to be at the top of the to-do list for whoever will form the next Government, because there is work to be done to implement the bill’s intent.

We need the guidance to remain a living document that is updated so that it reflects best practice. Above all else, it must be a practical document that everyone in the classroom can use.

We need continuing professional development for all practitioners in the classroom. Most practitioners will not need training, but those that do, definitely need it. Therefore, we need a focus on the training and on ensuring that it is available to all practitioners who require it.

We also need to look very carefully at the fact that while there has been a huge expansion in the number of children identified as having additional support needs, the level of resource—particularly the number of specialist, trained, additional support needs teachers—has declined.

However, I also want to thank the Government, because this has been a really rewarding process. The communication has been constructive, on-going and focused. In particular, I thank Jenny Gilruth. I remember the two of us as very newly elected members back in 2016, sitting around the table at the away day in Stirling for the Education and Skills Committee. I do not think that either of us would necessarily have imagined that that on-going relationship might have resulted in a bill such as this.

Ultimately, politics is about interpersonal relationships, dialogue, identifying where there is common cause and doing something about it. I hope that this bill stands as testament to that. This is my second member’s bill. I do not know whether two for two is a record. If this bill passes, as I hope it will, I will be proud of it.

However, above all else, I repeat my thanks to Beth Morrison and Kate Sanger: you are absolutely outstanding campaigners and you are delivering change. I know that I should speak through the chair, but please forgive me, Deputy Presiding Officer. All of us in the Parliament owe you a debt of gratitude.

The cabinet secretary stole my closing line. As we pass Calum’s law, let us end with Calum’s words:

“The children aren’t naughty, they’re just scared.”

Let us put that to an end.