A new report sets out the progress made to improve the educational experiences of children and young people with additional support needs (ASN) in schools across Scotland, with more than 40 actions completed thus far.
Measures adopted since publication of the independent Morgan Review in 2020 include directly involving children, young people and their families in decisions around additional support for learning (ASL), increasing professional learning opportunities for teaching and support staff and setting up parent groups to provide extra support to those who have children with ASN.
.@ScotGov and @COSLA have published a joint progress report and action plan setting out how we are delivering on our pledges to children and young people with additional support needs.
40 actions have been completed since 2020 with work continuing.
The progress report is supported by an updated action plan that includes work now underway such as the development of a National Measurement Framework to capture the range of success and achievements of children and young people with ASN and a refresh of the Code of Practice – the legal guidance used by education authorities and others supporting children’s learning.
The report comes as spending on additional support for learning reached a record high of £926 million in 2022-23 despite on-going difficult financial funding challenges.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “We are determined to improve the educational experiences of children and young people with additional support needs and make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.
“The Morgan Review set out a clear direction to build on progress in this area and we are working closely with COSLA to ensure the remaining actions are completed for children with support needs in schools across Scotland.
“The number of pupils identified with additional support needs has increased markedly since 2010, with year on year increases. This progress report and updated action plan shows what has been accomplished thus far, what further work is on-going, and what plans are in place for the next 18 months.
“While we have made good progress, there is a lot more to do and we will continue working with COSLA, schools, parents and carers to ensure that we are delivering fully on our pledges to children with additional support needs and that they each get the educational experience they deserve.”
COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People Tony Buchanan said: ““This is the third Progress Report on the joint Action plan from COSLA and Scottish Government.
“The Report provides an update on activity from November 2022 through to June this year. It highlights a number of actions which have been developed to improve communication between schools and parents and carers, and also highlights resources and training which have been developed to support teachers and support staff in schools.
“Angela Morgan’s 2020 Report called for the profile of additional support for learning to be raised. The publication of the Progress Report is one of the ways we are doing this, and COSLA will share the Report and updated Action Plan with our members and networks to continue to raise awareness of steps being taken to better support schools, families and most importantly children and young people.”
Chancellor ‘takes long-term decisions to restore stability, rebuild Britain and protect working people across Scotland’
No change to working people’s payslips as employee national insurance and VAT stay the same, but businesses and the wealthiest asked to pay their fair share.
Record £47.7 billion for the Scottish Government in 2025/26 includes £3.4 billion through the Barnett formula.
Funding for Green Freeports, City and Growth Deals, GB Energy and hydrogen projects to fire up growth and deliver good jobs across Scotland.
The Chancellor has ‘delivered a Budget to fix the foundations to deliver on the promise of change after a decade and a half of stagnation’. She set out plans to rebuild Britain, while ensuring working people across Scotland don’t face higher taxes in their payslips.
The UK Government was handed a challenging inheritance; £22 billion of unfunded in-year spending pressures, debt at its highest since the 1960s, an unrealistic forecast for departmental spending, and stagnating living standards.
This Budget takes ‘difficult decisions’ to restore economic and fiscal stability, so that the UK Government can invest in Scotland’s future and lay the foundations for economic growth across the UK as its number one mission.
The Chancellor announced that the Scottish Government will be provided with a £47.7 billion settlement in 2025/26 – the largest in real terms in the history of devolution. This includes a £3.4 billion top-up through the Barnett formula, with £2.8 billion for day-to-day spending and £610 million for capital investment.
Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said: “This is a historic budget for Scotland that chooses investment over decline and delivers on the promise that there would be no return to austerity.
“It is the largest budget settlement for the Scottish Government in the history of devolution, including an additional £1.5 billion this financial year and an additional £3.4 billion next year through the Barnett formula. That money must reach frontline services, to bring down NHS waiting lists and lift attainment in our schools.
“It will also bring a new era of growth for Scotland and the whole UK, confirming nearly £890 million of direct investment into Freeports, Investment Zones, the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal, and other important local projects across Scotland’s communities, as well as £125 million next year for GB Energy and support for green hydrogen projects in Cromarty and Whitelee.
“The increase in the minimum wage will also mean a pay rise for hundreds of thousands of workers in Scotland, with the biggest increase for young workers ever. This is on top of our employment rights bill which will deliver the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation. The triple lock means an increase in the state pension by £470 next year, on top of £900 this year for a million Scottish pensioners.
“The budget protects working people in Scotland, delivers more money than ever before for Scottish public services and means an end to the era of austerity.”
Protecting working people and living standards
While fixing the inheritance requires tough decisions, the Chancellor has committed to protecting the living standards of working people. The decisions taken by the Chancellor to rebuild public finances enable the UK Government to deliver on its pledge to not increase National Insurance or VAT on working people in Scotland, meaning they will not see higher taxes in their payslip.
The National Living Wage will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour from April 2025. The 6.7% increase – worth £1,400 a year for a full-time worker – is a significant move towards delivering a genuine living wage.
The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will also see a record rise from £8.60 to £10 an hour.
Working people will benefit from these increases, with there estimated to be over 100,000 minimum wage workers in Scotland in 2023.
The Chancellor has made the decision to protect working people in Scotland from being dragged into higher tax brackets by confirming that the freeze on National Insurance Contributions thresholds will be lifted from 2028-29 onwards, rising in line with inflation so they can keep more of their hard-earned wages.
The Chancellor is also protecting motorists by freezing fuel duty for one year – a tax cut worth £3 billion, with the temporary 5p cut extended to 22 March 2026. This will benefit an estimated 3.2 million people in Scotland, saving the average car driver £59, vans £126 and Heavy Goods Vehicles £1,079 next year.
To support Scottish pubs and smaller brewers in Scotland, the UK Government is cutting duty on qualifying draught products by 1p, which represent approximately 3 in 5 alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This measure reduces duty bills by over £70 million a year, cutting duty on an average strength pint in a pub by a penny. The relief available to small producers will be updated to help smaller brewers and cidermakers.
Over 1 million Scottish pensioners will benefit from a 4.1% increase to their new or basic State Pension in April 2025. This is an additional £470 a year for those on the new State Pension and an additional £360 a year for those on the basic State Pension.
Households eligible for Pension Credit will get £465 a year more for single pensioners and up to £710 a year more for couples due to a 4.1% increase in the Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee, benefitting 125,000 pensioners in Scotland.
Around 1.7 million families in Scotland will see their working-age benefits uprated in line with inflation – a £150 gain on average in 2025-26.
Reducing the maximum level of debt repayments that can be deducted from a household’s Universal Credit payment each month from 25% to 15% will benefit a Scottish family by over £420 a year on average.
Rebuilding Britain
This UK Government will not make a return to austerity and will instead boost investment to rebuild Britain and lay the foundations for growth in Scotland. This includes £130 million of targeted funding for the Scottish Government, of which £120 million is in capital investment.
The Budget delivers on the first step to establish Great British Energy by providing £125 million next year to set up the institution at its new home in Aberdeen – helping to develop new clean energy projects in Scotland and across the UK.
The UK Government will deliver £122 million for City and Growth Deals, including the continuation of its contribution to the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal which delivers £25 million of investment in the region over 10 years. This Deal will be supported by a rigorous value for money assessment as part of the review of the business cases for projects within it, to ensure best value is being delivered.
The Budget gives certainty to local leaders and investors, confirming funding for the Investment Zones and Freeports programmes across the UK – including Scotland’s Green Freeports.
The Chancellor committed the UK Government to working closely with the Scottish Government on the Industrial Strategy, 10-year infrastructure strategy and the National Wealth Fund – to ensure the benefits of these are felt UK-wide and as part of the relationship reset between governments. These will mobilise billions of pounds of investment in the UK’s world-leading clean energy and growth industries.
To support economic growth and promote Scottish culture, products and services through diplomatic and trade networks, the UK Government is allocating £750,000 for the Scotland Office in 2025/26 to champion Brand Scotland as was committed in the manifesto.
We are supporting Scotland’s world-renowned Scotch Whisky industry by providing up to £5 million for HMRC to reduce the fees charged by the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme and by ending mandatory duty stamps for spirits on 1 May 2025.
Two electrolytic hydrogen projects in Scotland have been selected for UK Government revenue support through the first Hydrogen Allocation Round: Cromarty Green Hydrogen Project and Whitelee Green Hydrogen. Both projects will bring in significant international investment and create good quality, local jobs.
An extension of the Innovation Accelerators programme will support the high-potential innovation cluster in the Glasgow City Region.
A corporate tax roadmap will provide businesses with the stability and certainty they need to make long-term investment decisions and support our growth mission. It confirms our competitive offer, with the lowest Corporate Tax rate in the G7 and generous support for investment and innovation.
The UK Government will also proceed with implementing the 45%/40% rates of the theatre, orchestra, museum and galleries tax relief from 1 April 2025 to provide certainty to businesses in Scotland’s thriving cultural sector.
Repairing public finances
The Chancellor has made clear that, whilst protecting working people with measures to reduce the cost of living, there would be difficult decisions required. The Budget will ask businesses and the wealthiest to pay their fair share while making taxes fairer. This will go directly towards fixing the foundations of the UK economy.
The rate of Employers’ National Insurance will increase by 1.2 percentage points, to 15%. The Secondary Threshold – the level at which employers start paying national insurance on each employee’s salary – will reduce from £9,100 per year to £5,000 per year.
The smallest businesses will be protected as the Employment Allowance will increase to £10,500 from £5,000, allowing Scottish firms to employ four National Living Wage workers full time without paying employer national insurance on their wages.
Capital Gains Tax will increase from 10% to 18% for those paying the lower rate, and 20% to 24% for those paying the higher rate.
To encourage entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) will remain at 10% this year, before rising to 14% on 6 April 2025 and 18% from 6 April 2026-27.
The lifetime limit of BADR will be maintained at £1 million. The lifetime limit of Investors’ Relief will be reduced from £10 million to £1 million.
The OBR say changes to CGT raise over £2.5 billion a year and the UK will continue to have the lowest CGT rate of any European G7 country.
Inheritance Tax thresholds will be fixed at their current levels for a further two years until April 2030. More than 90% of estates each year will be outside of its scope. From April 2027 inherited pensions will be subject to Inheritance Tax. This removes a distortion which has led to pensions being used as a tax planning vehicle to transfer wealth rather than their original purpose to fund retirement.
From April 2026, agricultural property relief and business property relief will be reformed. The highest rate of relief will continue at 100% for the first £1 million of combined business and agricultural assets, fully protecting the majority of businesses and farms. It will reduce to 50% after the first £1 million. Reforms will affect the wealthiest 2,000 estates each year. Inheritance Tax reforms in total are predicted by the OBR to raise £2 billion to support stability.
From 2026-27 Air Passenger Duty (APD) for short and long-haul flights will increase by 13% to the nearest pound, a partial adjustment to account for previous high inflation. For economy passengers, this means a maximum £2 extra per short haul flight and tickets for children under the age of 16 remain exempt from APD. APD for larger private jets will be increased by a further 50%. Passengers carried on flights leaving from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands region are exempt from APD.
The rate of the Energy Profits Levy will increase to 38% from 1 November 2024 and the levy will now expire one year later than planned, on 31 March 2030. The 29% investment allowance will be removed.
To provide long-term certainty and to support a stable energy transition, the UK Government will make no additional changes to tax relief available within the EPL and a consultation will be published in early 2025 on a successor regime that can respond to price shocks. Money raised from changes to the EPL will support the transition to clean energy, enhance energy security and provide sustainable jobs for the future.
The Budget also announced a package of measures that disincentivise activities that cause ill health, by:
Renewing the tobacco duty escalator which increases all tobacco duty rates by RPI+2% plus an above escalator increase to hand rolling tobacco (totalling RPI+12%).
Introducing a new vaping duty at a flat rate of 22p/ml from October 2026, accompanied by a further one-off increase in tobacco duty to maintain financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking.
To help tackle obesity and other harms caused by high sugar intake, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will increase to account for inflation since it was last updated in 2018, and the duty will rise in line with inflation every year going forward.
The UK Government will also uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI on 1 February 2025, except for most drinks in pubs.
The UK Government has set out the next steps to deliver its tax manifesto commitments in the July Statement. Having consulted on the final policy details where appropriate, this Budget delivers the UK Government’s manifesto commitments to raise revenue to pay for First Steps, with reforms that are underpinned by fairness, and tackle tax avoidance by:
A new residence-based regime will replace the current non-dom regime from April 2025 and will be designed to attract investment and talent to the UK.
Offshore trusts will no longer be able to be used to shelter assets from Inheritance Tax, and there will be transitional arrangement in place for people who have made plans based on current rules.
The planned 50% reduction for foreign income in the first year of the new regime will be removed.
Reforms to the non-dom regime will raise a total of £12.7 billion according to the OBR.
The tax treatment of carried interest will be reformed by first increasing the Capital Gains Tax rates on carried interest to 32% and then, from April 2026, moving to a revised regime – with bespoke rules to reflect the characteristics of the reward.
The Chancellor also ‘doubled down’ on fiscal responsibility through two new fiscal rules that put the public finances on a sustainable path and prioritise investment to support long-term growth, and new principles of stability. Spending Reviews will be held every two years, setting plans for at least three years to ensure public services are always planned and improve value for money.
One major fiscal event per year will give families and businesses stability and certainty on tax and spending changes, while giving the Scottish Government greater clarity for in its own budget-setting. A Fiscal Lock will also ensure no future government can sideline the OBR again.
Budget marks ‘step in right direction’
Scotland’s Finance Secretary responds to Budget
Finance Secretary Shona Robison has welcomed additional funding in the Autumn Budget, but said the Scottish Government will still face “enormous cost pressures” despite the measures.
The Finance Secretary said: “We called for increased investment in public services, infrastructure and tackling poverty. This budget is a step in the right direction, but still leaves us facing enormous cost pressures going forwards. The additional funding for this financial year has already been factored into our spending plans.
“By changing her fiscal rules and increasing investment in infrastructure, the Chancellor has met a core ask of the Scottish Government. But after 14 years of austerity, it’s going to take more than one year to rebuild and recover – we will need to see continued investment over the coming years to reset and reform public services.
“Indeed, there is a risk that by providing more funding for public services while increasing employer national insurance contributions, the UK Government is giving with one hand while taking away with the other.
“We estimate that the employer national insurance change could add up to £500 million in costs for the public sector unless it is fully reimbursed – and there is a danger that we won’t get that certainty until after the Scottish budget process for 2025/26 has concluded.
“With the lingering effects of the cost of living crisis still hitting family finances, it is disappointing that there was no mention of abolishing the two-child limit, which evidence shows would be one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce child poverty. Neither was there mention of funding for the Winter Fuel Payment.
“As ever, the devil is in the detail, and we will now take the time to assess the full implications of today’s statement. I will be announcing further details as part of the Scottish Budget on 4 December.”
Child Poverty Action Group: Chancellor misses golden chance to scrap two child limit
16 000 more children will now be pulled into poverty by time new UK child poverty taskforce reports in spring
“Good news on universal credit deductions, but no bold action on child poverty”
Barnett consequentials must now be prioritised to fund action on child poverty in Scotland
Responding to the UK Chancellor’s Budget, John Dickie, Director of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, said;“The Chancellor brought good news on universal credit deductions, but this was not a Budget of bold action on child poverty. She missed a golden chance to scrap the two-child limit, a policy that will pull 16,000 extra children into poverty by the time the government’s child poverty taskforce reports in spring.
We welcome the new UK government’s ambition on child poverty but this budget played for time, time that children and families can’t afford. The UK spending review next spring will have to deliver much more to make a significant difference for children in poverty.”
Mr Dickie continued: “Here in Scotland and looking ahead to the Scottish budget it is vital that wider Barnett consequentials are now used to fund the action needed to deliver on the First Minister’s number one priority of ending child poverty.
“That must include funding a real terms increase to the Scottish child payment, expanding childcare provision, delivering on free school meal promises and increasing the supply of affordable family housing.”
POVERTY ALLIANCE:
Responding to today’s UK Budget, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “People across the UK believe in a nation based on justice and compassion. Today’s Budget was an opportunity for the Chancellor to turn those values into action, and to rebuild trust in government. Despite some welcome changes, there is still some way to go.
“Boosting the minimum wage is welcome, because for decades workers have been getting less and less from our growing economy. This increase will go some way to making up the gap, particularly for younger workers. But we need to remember that today’s Budget will still leave the legal minimum wages far lower than the real Living Wage rate – the only wage rate that is solely based on the cost of living – of £12.60 per hour, or £13.85 per hour in London.
“We know that too many people on Universal Credit find themselves pushed into destitution when they are chased for debt by public bodies, so it’s good that the maximum amount of benefit that can be taken from them has been reduced. But the Chancellor could have gone further, by strengthening our social security with a boost to Universal Credit that would guarantee that households can afford life’s essentials.
“She could have made it clear that every child matters, by scrapping the unjust and ineffective two-child limit, and ditching the unfair benefit cap which stops households getting all the support they are entitled to.
“There was a welcome focus on the importance of our public services to our shared prosperity and wellbeing. But the Chancellor could have done more to use our country’s wealth to tackle poverty and invest in a better society. Even with today’s changes, people who earn money from selling shares and business assets will pay Capital Gains Tax at a lower rate than workers pay in Income Tax. That’s just wrong.
“Freezing fuel duty and keeping the previous cuts in place will cost the Exchequer billions of pounds a year. It’s bad value for money, benefits the wealthiest in society most, and does little to make the transition to the green economy. The money would have been better invested in affordable, accessible, and sustainable public transport for all.
“It’s right that big companies pay their fair share towards building a strong society, but the Chancellor must urgently consider how increases to employer National Insurance will hit charities and community groups.
“The support and advice provided by these organisations is vital for people who have been pushed into poverty, but too many are already struggling through a lack of fair funding, and this NI increase could push many over the edge.
“That would be a disaster for our communities, and leave more low-income households facing destitution and despair.”
TUC: Labour’s investment budget has begun process of “repairing and rebuilding Britain”
Union body says budget is a vital first step towards the growth, jobs and living standards working people desperately need
Commenting on Wednesday’s budget statement from the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Chancellor was dealt a terrible hand by the last Conservative government – a toxic legacy of economic chaos, falling living standards and broken public services.
“But with today’s budget the Chancellor has acted decisively to deliver an economy that works for working people.
“The government’s investment plans are a vital first step towards repairing and rebuilding Britain – securing the stronger growth, higher wages and decent public services that the country desperately needs.
“Tax rises will ensure much-needed funds for our NHS, schools and the rest of our crumbling public services, with those who have the broadest shoulders paying a fairer share. The Chancellor was right to prioritise hospitals and classrooms over private jets.
“There is still a lot more work to do to clean up 14 years of Tory mess and economic decline. – including better supporting and strengthening our social security system. But this budget sets us on an urgently needed path towards national renewal.”
Shelter Scotland has responded to the UK budget set out this afternoon by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The housing and homelessness charity urged the Scottish Government to commit to investing any new capital funding into delivering the social homes needed to end the housing emergency.
However, it also expressed disappointment at the continuation of the two-child limit and ongoing freeze to Local Housing Allowance.
Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said:“Having declared a housing emergency it’s clear that the Scottish Government must back words with actions.
“It is vital that any capital funding which becomes available as a result of the Chancellor’s investment plans is in turn used by Scottish Ministers to deliver social homes here, but we also need to see growth in the capital budget over a sustained period to support continued investment.
“Delivering more social homes remains the single most effective way to tackle the housing emergency in Scotland, and only the Scottish Government can decide how much of its budget it commits to that endeavour.
“However, we can’t ignore the role that austerity has played in exacerbating Scotland’s housing emergency.
“The freeze on local housing allowance and the two-child limit has forced thousands into poverty; they will continue to do so as it seems the Chancellor has chosen to keep them in place.”
COSLA:
ONE PARENT FAMILIES SCOTLAND:
Scotch Whisky industry says UK government has broken commitment to ‘back Scotch producers to the hilt’
Chancellor increases discrimination of Scotch Whisky and other spirits in on-trade
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) says the Chancellor’s decision to further increase duty on Scotch Whisky has broken the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘back Scotch producers to the hilt.’
In her first Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an RPI inflation increase to alcohol duty, but cut duty on draught products in the on-trade by 1.7%. Scotch Whisky and other spirits are excluded from this tax relief.
The SWA had called on the new Chancellor to take the opportunity to reverse the damage done by the 10.1% increase in August 2023. Instead, the damage done to the industry and to government revenue has been compounded by further increasing the tax burden on the sector, which is already the highest in the G7.
Spirits revenue fell by hundreds of millions of pounds as a result of the 10.1% duty increase last year, and the industry has warned that this further tax hike will not deliver the revenue ministers have been promised but will hurt businesses, the hospitality sector and hard-pressed consumers.
Commenting on the Budget, Chief Executive of the SWA Mark Kent said:“This duty increase on Scotch Whisky is a hammer blow, runs counter to the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘back Scotch producers to the hilt’ and increases the tax discrimination of Scotland’s national drink.
“On the back of the 10.1% duty increase last year, which led to a reduction in revenue for HM Treasury, this tax hike serves no economic purpose. It will damage the Scotch Whisky industry, the Scottish economy, and undermines Labour’s commitment to promote ‘Brand Scotland’.
“She has also increased the tax discrimination of spirits in the Treasury’s warped duty system, and with 70% of UK spirits produced in Scotland, that will do further damage to a key Scottish sector.
“The disastrous 10.1% duty hike last year has now been compounded. This further tax rise means the lessons have not been learned, and the Chancellor has chosen continuity with her predecessor, not change.
“We urge all MPs who support Scotch Whisky to vote against this duty hike and tax discrimination of Scotland’s national drink.”
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said:“The Chancellor had difficult choices to make to deliver stability for the economy and public finances. A more balanced approach to our fiscal rules which prioritises capital investment should help to unlock private sector investment in our infrastructure and net zero transition over the long-term.
“This is a tough Budget for business. While the Corporation Tax Roadmap will help create much needed stability, the hike in National Insurance Contributions alongside other increases to the employer cost base will increase the burden on business and hit the ability to invest and ultimately make it more expensive to hire people or give pay rises.
“Only the private sector can provide the scale of investment required to deliver the government’s growth agenda.
“To achieve this shared mission of growing our economy sustainably, it’s vital that the government doubles down on its partnership with business to unlock the investment that is needed to drive opportunity around the UK.”
FSB: Employment allowance rise welcome from Chancellor in tax-raising Budget
The Federation of Small Businesses responds to the Chancellor’s Budget statement
Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget statement, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tina McKenzie, said: “Increasing the employment allowance for small businesses by a record amount is a very welcome move and we’re pleased the Chancellor has heard us loud and clear.
“More than doubling it, from £5,000 to £10,500, will shield the smallest employers from the jobs tax, therefore is a pro-jobs prioritisation in a tough Budget.
“The decision to protect small businesses from an inflationary hike in business rates – by freezing the small business multiplier – will help small firms with premises across all sectors. Meanwhile, extending business rates relief, albeit at a lower level, for small firms in retail, hospitality and leisure will mitigate a potential cliff-edge tax hike for those in some of the toughest sectors.
“The true test of today’s Budget will be whether small businesses can grow and end the economic stagnation the UK has been stuck in.
“Larger small, and medium-sized, businesses will struggle with the rises on employer national insurance on top of the large costs from the Government’s employment law plans. We’ve been very clear in our warning of the difficulty SMEs will be confronted with in meeting all of these changes at once – and the potential impact on jobs, wages and prices.
“The Budget documents include plans for a small business strategy command paper, which is a welcome signal that ministers appreciate the central role that small businesses play in driving growth and we look forward to working with the Government closely on that.
“Investment in infrastructure is key to future growth, and the Chancellor’s announcement of additional funding for rail projects and fixing potholes is therefore encouraging. Many small firms, meanwhile, will be relieved at the decision not to raise fuel duty. The commitment to prioritise small housebuilders when it comes to housing investment is also welcome.
“Building a business involves a significant element of risk and personal, as well as financial, investment. But for the economy to grow, we need more people to be incentivised to take that leap and, in turn, create jobs, opportunities and prosperity in all communities across the country.
“The right decision has been taken to retain entrepreneurs’ relief (now branded Business Asset Disposal Relief) up to £1million, which is something we have campaigned hard for. Although the level of relief will gradually reduce over time, resulting in more tax being paid in the future on business sales, we’re pleased to see a differential has been kept.
“Against a challenging backdrop, today’s Budget shows a clear direction in business policy now for the whole of this Parliament to target support at small businesses, rather than big corporates – prioritising everyday entrepreneurs working in local communities in all parts of the country.”
UK Budget fails “3 Key Tests for Scotland”, say Alba Party
Scottish Government must now fund universal entitlement to pensioners winter fuel payment
“To gain pass marks the new UK Labour Government had three key tests to meet in Scotland: it had to reverse its plan to cut the universal winter fuel payment; it had to save Grangemouth; and it had to fund a plan to save North Sea Oil and Gas jobs – on all three counts Labour has failed Scotland.”
This was said today by Acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill reacting to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget.
Alba Party say that the UK Government had three key tests to meet to deliver for Scotland. Former First Minister Alex Salmond helped launch a campaign to save the winter fuel payment last month.
Close to one million pensioners in Scotland are set to lose out on between £200-£300 this winter. Acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill has been a leading voice in the campaign to save the Grangemouth Oil Refinery from closure.
Mr MacAskill has today hit out at the UK Government after Labour promised in the General Election to save Scotland’s only refinery that is set for closure next year but has failed to provide funding to save the refinery in today’s budget.
MacAskill has now called on the Scottish Government to use extra Barnett consequential funding to fully mitigate the cut to the winter fuel payment.
Alba Party have also hit out as successive UK Government’s have promised investment in Carbon Capture Technology in the North East of Scotland. Alba say the technology is vital to secure the future of the North Sea Oil and Gas industry and to help Scotland play its part in protecting the environment. Today’s UK Budget confirmed £22billion of investment in carbon capture projects in England – but snubbed the Acorn project on the Buchan coast.
Commenting Acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill said: ““Today’s UK Budget is a continuity budget that proves that regardless of whether we have a UK Tory Government or a UK Labour Government, Scotland will always lose.
“To gain pass marks the new UK Labour Government had three key tests to meet in Scotland: it had to reverse its plan to cut the universal winter fuel payment; it had to save Grangemouth; and it had to fund a plan to save North Sea Oil and Gas jobs – on all three counts Labour has failed Scotland.
“ Close to a million Scottish pensioners are to be kept in the cold this winter, the UK Government has chosen to stand by and allow Scotland’s key industrial asset to close, and Labour have betrayed the North East of Scotland.
“ Nothing for Scotland’s pensioners, nothing for Grangemouth and nothing for Carbon Capture and the North Sea. It is now vital that the Scottish Government steps up to the plate and uses any additional funding consequentials it receives to fully mitigate the cut to the winter fuel payment.”
Budget is a ‘Missed Opportunity’
The budget is a missed opportunity to bring about the transformative change this country needs, said Westminster’s group of independent MPs.
A statement from the Independent Alliance:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION UNIT:
Dr Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU, said: “The Chancellor billed this as an historically consequential budget of hard choices. That’s certainly true in many areas with £40bn of tax rises announced and significant changes to the government’s debt rules.
“For local government, however, it is a budget of choices deferred. It could have been worse – there’s an additional £1.3bn in funding including money for social care and additional funding for housing and special educational needs: the very areas that are driving many councils to bankruptcy.
“But this extra funding is not even half the gap that councils currently face.
“The longer-tem change that the sector desperately needs is all deferred for now. We are waiting on the Local Government Finance Settlement, on the Devolution White Paper and on a broader redistribution of funding through a multi-year settlement from 2026-27.
“There were some welcome highlights: retaining 100% of right to buy receipts and integrated settlements for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands and possibly for other places in future.
“Is this a start? Yes. Is it enough? Not by a long shot. At least not yet. There’s a positive direction of travel set out, but there’s a long way to go and the pressure on council finances means there’s a real risk that some councils will not be able to hang on long enough to get there.”
Since the launch of Self-Harm Network Scotland’s (SHNS) live chat service on World Mental Health Day 2023 (10th October 2023), the SHNS team has had 1,273 supportive conversations on the webchat, with an average chat lasting around 29 minutes.
The unique live webchat service can be accessed on the SHNS website and is for people aged 12 and over in Scotland in need of support for their self-harm. The service is available between 6pm and 10pm, seven days a week.
People can anonymously chat to one of the SHNS team about their self-harm and get advice and support outside of standard support hours, when those experiencing self-harm may be most in need of someone to speak to.
As well as offering support via the live chat, the SHNS website has free and accessible resources, tools and information for people who self-harm, their loved ones and for professionals who work with people who self-harm.
SHNS’s team of Peer Practitioners can also provide 12 to 15 free one-to-one support sessions for people (aged 12 and over) who self-harm in Scotland, delivered via video, phone calls and text.
The SHNS service is part of charity Penumbra Mental Health, which provides dedicated services for people with mild to enduring mental ill-health.
We work together with the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in delivering their self-harm strategy and action plan, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.
SHNS is funded by the Scottish Government, and we also work with partners who share our goal of providing compassionate and freely accessible support services to people who self-harm.
In the past year, 90% of people who gave feedback after using the webchat said they found it helpful (71% ‘Very Helpful’, 19% ‘Somewhat Helpful’). Here is some feedback from people that were supported by the webchat:
“[The chat] was so lovely and very logical and helped me into a safe and calmer location.”
“Very patient and convinced me to try the local self-harm services.”
“No pressure was put on me regarding my coping techniques. Very good listening.”
Darren Boyd, SHNS Network Manager, said:
“Since the inception of Self-Harm Network Scotland, it has been important to us that people with lived experience guide our delivery of support. Feedback from people with lived experience revealed to us a need for accessible, national support for people who self-harm. We also know there is still a lot of stigma around self-harm and this can be a barrier to people accessing support.”
He continued: “The Live Chat is a place anyone can come to and can remain anonymous should they wish. They can get support from our team at times they are feeling distressed and may not have anyone else to reach out to. The first year of running this new element of support has taught us a lot, and we look forward to continuing to work with people with lived experience to grow and continue this service.”
Julia, who works on SHNS’ live chat, said:
“The webchat is great, and the users have told me that they prefer it to calling somewhere. They appreciate the anonymity of the webchat a lot. A lot of young people feel anxiety about making phone calls. It’s also good for me as I find it easier to think about what I want to say while I am typing.”
Julia added: “Having lived experience of self-harm makes it easier for me to relate to the people I am chatting to. When chatting to someone on the webchat, I have shared tips that have helped me on my recovery journey, and I feel that I can easily pick up when someone needs to be heard most of all instead of looking for advice.”
Maree Todd, Mental Wellbeing Minister, said:
“I am pleased to celebrate the first year of the webchat that we launched together with Penumbra this time last year.
“To have already supported 1,273 people through the webchat is a huge accomplishment and supports our vision for anyone affected by self-harm to receive compassionate, recovery-focused support, without fear of stigma or discrimination, as outlined in our Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan.
“We greatly value the expertise peer practitioners and trained volunteers are bringing to this service, which is showing positive results in supporting people affected by self-harm right across Scotland. This is why we are continuing to invest £1.5 million to support Self-Harm Network Scotland.”
Paul Kelly, COSLA’s Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, said:
“COSLA welcomes the ongoing development of compassionate support for those experiencing self-harm. Making services such as the webchat available is essential in ensuring those who need it get the right support at the right time. Through the Self Harm Strategy and action plan we continue to work collectively to improve responses and support for self-harm across Scotland.”
Outside of the live chat operating hours, people can self-refer on to the service via the online contact form.
You can access the webchat between 6pm and 10pm over on the SHNS website:
Council Leaders have withdrawn support for the Scottish Government’s revised National Care Service Bill.
The Bill is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament.
Though continuing to back key areas of reform, including enhanced support for unpaid carers, care home visitation rights and efforts to improve the experience of the social work and social care workforce, Council Leaders have expressed concern that the amended Bill currently does not reflect a model which Local Government can support.
The decision of Local Government Leaders today comes as several organisations have expressed doubt on the legislative approach adopted by Scottish Government, including those working across the care sector. Experts have also questioned the evidence for including, within the National Care Service, services which support children and young people.
Commenting, COSLA’s Health & Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly said: “Local Government cannot support the amended National Care Service Bill brought forward by Scottish Government.
“Local Government has been committed to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to develop proposals to deliver a National Care Service, but unfortunately the revised legislation does not effectively represent that partnership.
“Local Government is committed to continuing our engagement with key areas of reform which can deliver improved outcomes for people, unpaid carers and our workforce. We cannot, however, offer our support for the legislation brought forward at this stage”
“It is important that the views of people accessing, working in and planning front-line support services are listened to, both with regards to the NCS legislation and also the improvements needed to overcome the sustained financial and workforce pressures being experienced across Scotland.”
The National Care Service Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on June 20th 2022, and allows for the transfer of a range of social care, social work and community health functions from local authorities to a new centralised body under the direction of Scottish Ministers.
On July 12 2023, Local Government and Scottish Government announced a shared accountability partnership for delivering the National Care Service in an alternative way, with enhanced national strategic direction through the creation of a national NCS Board, but with a continued role for local decision-making and Local Government.
Plan to tackle discrimination and social exclusion
Improved access to housing, education and health services and tackling discrimination are at the heart of a new Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA.
The voices of Gypsy/Travellers have helped shape the Plan, which acknowledges improvements in many of these areas, but recognises further progress needs to be made.
The Scottish Government and COSLA will work with stakeholders to take forward measures in the Plan.
Key actions in the plan include:
Supporting Local Authorities to provide more and better accommodation, by taking steps for funding to be accessed under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme from 2026-27, and ensuring planners understand the needs of Gypsy/Traveller communities
Measures to remove barriers to education and improve educational outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller children and young people
Improving Gypsy/Travellers’ access to and experience of healthcare
Working to remove barriers to accessing benefits and build understanding among employers of the inequalities faced by Gypsy/Travellers, with practical tools to support recruitment and retention.
Challenging prejudice and discrimination and helping communities to influence decision-making
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Improving the lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Traveller communities is a significant human rights commitment and is crucial in helping us deliver the fairer Scotland we want to see.
“The voices of Gypsy/Travellers across Scotland are at the centre of this second national joint action plan, and it is a testimony to the collaborative work of national and local government, third sector organisations, and most of all, the determination of Gypsy/Travellers to ensure better futures for their communities.
“We know current initiatives are having a positive impact on the lives of Gypsy/Traveller communities across Scotland, like the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund and the success of the Community Health Worker project in overcoming barriers to accessing health and other statutory services.
“However, there is still work to do. Through the actions in this plan we will build on the successes we have had to date and make further progress in many areas such as accommodation, health, education and combating discrimination.”
Record high NHS 24 workforce to meet increased demand
A record number of NHS 24 call handlers will support the public to access the most appropriate care this winter as services deal with increased demand.
Through the Scottish Government and COSLA’s joint Winter Preparedness Plan, continued investment for NHS 24 will increase service capacity to provide clinical supervision for at least 150,000 additional calls per year and help prevent unnecessary A&E attendances.
Key measures to support services in the face of increased demand, include; improving discharge planning for patients admitted to acute or community hospitals, maintaining established care at home packages and a Government led delayed discharge response team to directly support Boards in need of assistance. Planned care capacity will also be safeguarded with a continued focus on clearing long waits.
The annual winter vaccination programme, which includes respiratory condition RSV for the first time, will support a reduction in severe disease, hospitalisation and mortality – while protecting health and social care service capacity. The joint plan also sets out action to support the mental health and well-being of service staff through increased flexible working options and dedicated mental health resources.
This year’s plan has been published a month ahead of last year, and earlier than ever before, to allow more time for NHS Boards and care providers to prepare for winter surges in demand.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “As winter approaches, the NHS will see surges in demand across all health, social care and social work services. Our joint Winter Plan with COSLA is just one part of a wider programme of work to respond to heightened demand.
“A record number of NHS 24 call handlers will be available this winter to direct people to the most appropriate care, helping reduce unnecessary A&E attendances. We will continue our work to reduce delayed discharge in hospitals with an increased focus on effective discharge planning and protecting care at home packages. We will also ensure planned care capacity is protected as much as possible in the face of winter pressure so patients are seen as quickly as possible.
“We are prioritising frontline services with over £14.2 billion investment in our boards this year – an almost 3% real terms uplift – and also investing £2 billion in social care services.
“I thank all health, social care and social work staff for their continued efforts and dedication to deliver high quality care. It is fundamental we safeguard their wellbeing, and improved options on flexible working and continued access to mental health resources will ensure staff are supported over this challenging period.”
COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly said: “It is our shared responsibility to ensure that people and communities have timely access to quality care and support when they need it most.
“We know that Local Government and Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland are working hard to plan and deliver the essential health and social care services our communities rely on every day.
“The context within which this takes place is increasingly challenging, which is why COSLA have worked jointly with the Scottish Government to produce this plan. Local Government plays a key role in supporting people to experience better wellbeing and better outcomes, so it was only right that this plan reflects the whole system of integrated health and social care, from acute and primary care to social work, our care homes, community settings, and our partners across the sector.
“Winter is often a time of exceptional pressure on our services so I am pleased that this plan, produced with our partners across the sector, reflects the challenges and the opportunities we face.”
The winners of COSLA’s 2024 Excellence Awards were named on Thursday 19th September at a ceremony at the scenic Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire.
The COSLA Excellence Awards are a key event in the local government calendar, and celebrate the incredible teams, projects, and services that Scottish Local Government delivers for our communities.
West Dunbartonshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Inverclyde Council, Renfrewshire Council, Glasgow City Council with Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership and Clackmannanshire Council have all been named winners at the COSLA 2024 Excellence Awards.
The COSLA Excellence Awards is an annual celebration of success and innovation in Scottish Local Government. The winners were celebrated at a special awards ceremony hosted by “Still Game” star Sanjeev Kohli on Thursday 19th September, in the beautiful surrounds of the Crieff Hydro Hotel, Perthshire.
The Awards recognise and celebrate teams and projects that exemplify best practice and innovative, sustainable service delivery over five categories – Service Innovation and Improvement; Achieving Better Outcomes for the Most Vulnerable in Partnership; Tackling Inequalities and Improving Health and Wellbeing; Strengthening Communities and Local Democracy, and Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy.
Scotland’s 32 councils and their key partners were invited to submit their applications over the summer. Applications were then shortlisted by an expert adjudication panel comprising experts across local and national government as well as the public and private sectors.
With more than 200 applications received this year, the judging panel were given the unenviable task of narrowing these down to just 15 finalists and 9 winners across the main categorises as well as 4 special awards – COSLA Chairperson’s Award, SOLACE Best Team Award, The Scottish Government – Delivering Excellence Award, and the Excellent People, Excellent Outcomes Award.
Councillor Shona Morrison, President of COSLA and Chair of the 2024 Excellence Awards, said: “Firstly, I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our winners!
“It has been an honour to chair the 2024 COSLA Excellence Awards. This is my second year of the Awards as COSLA President, and being part of the process, from judging entries to presenting the awards to the deserving winners remains a highlight of my year.
“The Excellence Awards serve as an important reminder that councils are here for our communities every day, supporting us in all aspects of our lives – from resolving day-to-day issues; to supporting people experiencing some of the most unprecedented and difficult circumstances imaginable.
“They provide education for our children and young people; help our family members and neighbours in need of care, housing and other forms of support; and ensure our communities are safe for all who live there.
“This year’s finalists really demonstrated the range of what councils deliver, and I hope that everyone in the room felt proud to be part of the Local Government family – I know I certainly did.
“It has been wonderful once again to celebrate at the beautiful Crieff Hydro Hotel, and to have this opportunity share and celebrate the inspirational stories of our finalists with our colleagues across the public, private and third sectors.
“This year’s entries and winners highlighted how important it is that we work collaboratively across these sectors to deliver for our communities, so I am very glad we were able to bring colleagues together to celebrate these wonderful joint achievements.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our event sponsors and partners for making this year’s Awards possible; and of course, to every single team who put in an application – not only for your hard work in putting together your application, but for your commitment to making Scotland’s communities better, safer places to be every single day.
“Finally, a huge thanks and congratulations to this year’s finalists and winners for being there with us on the night – it has been a pleasure to celebrate your hard work and dedication.”
The 2024 COSLA Excellence Awards winners are –
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Category 1: Service Innovation and Improvement (sponsored by Scottish Water)
West Dunbartonshire Council
Developing and Implementation of a Chatbot to improve the missed bins “experience” for citizens
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Category 2: Achieving Better Outcomes For The Most Vulnerable in Partnership (sponsored by our Conference headline sponsor, CCLA)
Aberdeen City Council
My Way to Employment (MwtE) – Supporting People in the Justice System
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Category 3: Tackling Inequalities and Improving Health and Wellbeing (sponsored by Public Health Scotland)
North Lanarkshire Council
Breastfeeding Friendly North Lanarkshire – Leading the Way in Driving Cultural Change
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Category 4: Strengthening Communities and Local Democracy
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Top CATs!
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Category 5: Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy (sponsored by Amey)
Inverclyde Council
Improving Inverclyde’s Environment Through Peatland Restoration
A Warm Scottish Welcome – North Lanarkshire’s Ukrainian Resettlement Project
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Thank you to all who applied, and huge congratulations to all this year’s winners!
Thank you to this years’ awards sponsors: CCLA, Scottish Water, Public Health Scotland, Amey Ltd., the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace), and Scottish Government.
A special thank you to our headline sponsor for the COSLA Conference, Exhibition and Excellence Awards, CCLA.
A new campaign challenging people to Rethink Dementia has been launched by the Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA.
To help address the stigma around the illness, people are being encouraged to continue doing everyday activities with friends or relatives diagnosed with dementia.
Research shows that making this effort to include people in social activities can help them stay well for longer as well as alleviate symptoms such as depression, anxiety and apathy.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray said: “When a friend or relative is diagnosed with dementia it’s natural not to know what to do. It can be an upsetting and daunting time, but it’s important for all of us to play a supportive role in helping our friends and family.
“One of the key elements in the Rethink Dementia campaign is asking us to think differently about a dementia diagnosis. There are many practical steps we can take to help the people closest to us to lead fulfilling lives and stay well for longer.”
COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson Counsellor Paul Kelly said: “This new campaign is a clear call to us all to think differently about dementia and those with a diagnosis.
“It highlights very clearly the simple ways that we can support people with dementia to stay connected to their local communities.”
Dr Tom Russ, an NHS Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist and Researcher at The University of Edinburgh said: “Over the past 20 years I’ve engaged with hundreds of people who have been diagnosed with dementia, and often they will withdraw from social activities, which can have a negative impact on their overall wellbeing.
“For anyone with friends or relatives who have been diagnosed with dementia, it’s vital to stay in touch to help them maintain their usual social activities, or even try something new together.”
It’s time to #RethinkDementia. If a friend or relative has been diagnosed with dementia, staying in contact, including them in social activities, and doing many of the things you’ve always done, can help them stay well for longer.
Union: Ministers must not blame spending cuts on public service pay
Ministers must not blame public service pay deals for spending cuts, according to GMB Scotland.
The warning comes as the union announces members have voted to accept a council pay offer and halt looming industrial action.
The union, one of the biggest across Scotland’s local authorities, revealed a ballot of members in councils showed 78% of those voting supported the deal offering up to 5.6% for frontline workers.
The offer from Cosla, representing Scotland’s councils, came just days before the start of strikes in waste and cleansing earlier this month.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, confirmed the industrial action, suspended during the vote, would not now go ahead.
He said it was right the offer, delivering a minimum rise of 3.6% for all grades, was weighted to ensure full-time frontline staff got a rise of £1,292 – equivalent to 5.6% for the lowest paid – but criticised needless delays.
Greenaway said: “Council leaders’ lack of urgency and stubborn refusal to ask the Scottish Government for support meant negotiations and uncertainty went on far longer than necessary.
“It should not take imminent strike action to deliver a fair offer but, while it came too late, the deal was above inflation for all staff and weighted to benefit frontline workers most.
“That was what the unions had asked for and, given that, it is no surprise our members accepted it.”
GMB Scotland has criticised the Scottish Government, however, after ministers froze non-essential spending within 24 hours of the offer being made before warning of more cuts this week.
Greenaway said: “Ministers implying a fair pay offer for our members means cuts to spending are only diverting attention from the real cause of the crisis in our public services.
“We have endured more than a decade of cuts not because of staff being paid fairly but because our governments, at Westminster and Holyrood, have failed to properly fund the public sector.
“Government is about choices but, when our public services are struggling to recruit and retain skilled staff, paying council staff fairly is not part of the problem but part of the solution.”
New guidance to empower schools to take action on mobile phone use and next steps in ongoing work to improve relationships and behaviour in schools has been published.
The ‘Behaviour and Relationships in Schools’ action plan, and targeted guidance for teachers to manage mobile phone use in schools, set out steps to be deployed at the national, local and school level over the next three years in response to concerns about relationships and behaviour in schools, including:
supporting the effective recording and monitoring of inappropriate behaviour
encouraging schools to reinforce a positive ethos and culture
providing guidance and support to ensure schools can embed relationships and behaviour policies which set clear expectations of relationships and behaviour
The new guidance on mobile phone use makes clear that while it is for individual schools to determine what action to take, head teachers are empowered to take the steps they see fit, including a full ban on mobile phone use in school if that is their judgement.
Aside from impacting behaviour, a growing body of evidence shows mobile phone use also impacts on learning. The Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 data showed that almost a third of 15-year-olds in Scotland and across all Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries reported being distracted using digital devices in most or every maths class – and around a quarter reported being distracted by others using digital devices.
During a visit to Stonelaw High School in Rutherglen, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Since the last action plan on relationships and behaviour in Scotland’s schools was published in 2017, our children and young people have experienced periods of significant challenge, including a global pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis which is causing real difficulty for families across the country. There is no doubt this has had a major impact on their schooling and how they learn.
“Improving relationships, behaviour and attendance in schools is one of my top priorities as Education Secretary. We have been working jointly on this with key partners such as COSLA and SAGRABIS since I was appointed and this new action plan contains a series of steps to be taken which will ensure that both pupils and staff are safe and supported.
“It takes an evidence-based approach to responding to the relationships and behaviour challenges faced in our schools and has been informed by the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR), which heard from nearly 4,000 teachers and support staff, as well as discussions with a wide range of stakeholders including teaching unions at the three behaviour summits.
“While it is clear that the vast majority of pupils in our schools continue to behave well, there are undoubtedly growing behavioural issues associated with mobile phones.
“This new guidance empowers head teachers to take the steps they see fit for their school to limit the use of mobile phones, including a full ban on the school estate if they feel that is required and I would encourage teachers to take all the steps they feel necessary to combat these issues.”
COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People Tony Buchanan said: “Ensuring children and young people feel supported, safe and ready to learn is of vital importance to Local Government, and we need to make sure schools are safe and welcoming places for all.
“We have worked closely with the Scottish Government and our partners across education system to develop the action plan and guidance published today.
“We will continue to work in partnership to enable the provision of the best possible support, in and out of school, so that children and young people to get the most out of their learning.”
Acting Stonelaw High School Headteacher Vicki Rice said: “We were delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to our school. The Cabinet Secretary took part in discussion groups with our staff and pupils who were given a valuable opportunity to talk with her about these important issues as part of their work and study on personal and social education.
“We discussed our work earlier this year with our parents and pupils about excessive phone use and the impact that this can have on learning. This work helped inform our plans for this session to protect the learning environment by limiting phone use in certain areas of the school.
“We will continue to work with our pupils and their families to ensure that this remains supported.
“This fits with our wider efforts to create positive relationships and behaviour right across our school. We know that getting this right for our learners means that they feel safer, more included, respected and supported.
“This in turn helps create strong relationships between our learners and staff and helps improve everyone’s wellbeing.”
Commenting on the publication of the National Action Plan on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools and mobile phone guidance by the Scottish Government, Mike Corbett, National Official Scotland for NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:“While NASUWT is frustrated with the length of time taken to produce this National Action Plan, we have nevertheless engaged in good faith with the Scottish Government, shared our members’ current experiences on managing pupil behaviour and advocated strongly around how they might be addressed.
“We are encouraged by the recognition that a range of approaches and consequences are required given that restorative approaches to poor behaviour do not work for all pupils and cannot be the only tool available to schools when responding to incidents of abuse and violence.
“We need to see better recording and monitoring of behaviour incidents in schools as an essential part of ensuring consistency and measuring progress and improvements over time.
“We very much welcome that the principle of serious consequences for serious misbehaviour, up to and including exclusion, where necessary, has been accepted.
“The Scottish Government must make it clear that serious misbehaviour will carry serious consequences if any plan is to secure a safe and orderly environment for teachers and students.
“Given the recent riots in other parts of the UK, the acknowledgement that more work is needed to support schools in addressing racism and racist incidents, along with other forms of discrimination such as misogyny, is welcome.
“We know that mobile phones can be used as a tool to bully and harass fellow pupils and teachers, as well as distracting pupils from their learning. We therefore welcome the guidance from the Scottish Government that school leaders can take steps to limit or ban the use of phones in their schools if they see fit. However, to be effective, addressing the use of mobile phones should form part of joined up whole-school strategies on managing pupil behaviour.
“While we are pleased to see that the Action Plan intends that schools will be offered support to adopt the recommendations within it, including suggested approaches and exemplars, it is disappointing that the Scottish Government has not as yet committed any additional funding, time or resources to schools to support this work.
“Teachers and school leaders are already dealing with excessive workloads and constrained budgets. Implementing the recommendations of this action plan is too important a task to be simply added to schools’ already lengthy to do lists. Ring-fenced time and funding is needed.”
