Schools (Staff and Pupil Safety)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 25 November 2020.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Neil Findlay Neil Findlay Labour

3. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that staff and pupils are safe in schools. (S5O-04787)

Photo of John Swinney John Swinney Scottish National Party

I am committed to ensuring that schools remain safe, open and welcoming for all staff and pupils. We have worked in partnership to develop guidance for schools that is informed by the latest scientific evidence, the advice of the Covid education recovery group and the understanding of real-life experiences as schools returned. That guidance is aligned with the levels under the strategic framework and sets out a core of comprehensive protective measures that will apply in all schools; it will also further enhance protective measures at levels 3 and 4. Those include greater use of face coverings and precautionary measures around formerly shielding individuals, physical education and out-of-school activities. We are also delivering our commitment to a Covid-19 surveillance programme in schools, and work to build on that programme, informed by clinical advice, is on-going.

Photo of Neil Findlay Neil Findlay Labour

According to the latest survey of schools by the Educational Institute of Scotland, teachers support the decision to keep schools open where at all possible, but they have real concerns about their and their pupils’ health and safety, with 43 per cent saying that they do not feel safe under the current conditions. What additional support is the Government putting into schools to increase the safety of teachers and to protect their wellbeing? It is clear that there are still significant concerns.

Photo of John Swinney John Swinney Scottish National Party

I recognise those issues and concerns. Indeed, I discussed them at length with representatives of the EIS in a bilateral discussion last Thursday. I take those points very seriously.

We have included a number of measures in the guidance that have strengthened the requirements for precautionary measures to be taken at levels 3 and 4. We remain open to dialogue with the teaching profession about what further steps we could take. We have expanded the size of the teaching profession, with about 1,400 additional teachers recruited and deployed in our schools. The Government has made available resources that I look to local authorities to draw down to ensure that the school environment can be kept as safe as possible through investment in cleaning services and other aspects of hygiene management.

I recognise the concerns, but I remain open to addressing any further issues that are brought to me by the professional associations, because school safety for staff and pupils is central to maintaining a safe education system.