8th September 2021
The Scottish Government has published its Programme for Government: A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22. We have extracted below key points relating to families, young people and education. The Programme for Government sets out the work the Government intends to carry out over the coming year. It includes:
Tackling Inequality
The Scottish Child Payment will be extended to children under 16 by the end of 2022, and doubled to £20 per week, per child ‘as quickly as possible’ after this.
Investment of £1 billion to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap, with a refreshed Attainment Challenge Programme.
Work to #KeepThePromise to care experienced children and young people, including:
- investing £500 million in a Whole Family Wellbeing Fund over the Parliament, to reduce crisis intervention and keep children and young people with their families
- introduce a new Care Experience Grant of a £200 annual payment over 10 years for care experienced young people.
The Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-26 will be published in March 2022. It will be backed by a further £50 million.
The School Clothing Grant is to increase every year by inflation. Automated payment of this will be supported. Statutory guidance for schools will be developed, increasing the use of generic items of uniform and reducing costs for families.
A package of support created to tackle the cost of the school day, to ensure all children have access to the same opportunities, including:
- providing digital devices for every school-age child, free school trips, and expanding free school meals to all Primary pupils
- pilot schemes to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children
- phased roll‑out of a food offer during the school holidays, starting with those who will benefit the most.
A new approach to recognising the achievements and successes of children and young people with Additional Support Needs will be developed, alongside the full implementation of the findings of the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Review.
Policies for all children/young people
Nationwide free bus travel for Scotland’s young people aged under 22 from 31 January 2022 (subject to parliamentary approval)’
The expansion of the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme to primary age pupils from next August and a pilot programme for secondary age pupils will be developed.
In School
Funding for councils to support the recruitment of 3,500 additional teachers and 500 classroom assistants.
School‑based instrumental music teachers to receive General Teaching Council for Scotland registration and regulation.
The 12 recommendations of the OECD review of the curriculum, published in June, are to be implemented. There will be engagement with teachers, learners and parents to consider the changes needed to the curriculum. A council of young people, chaired by the Education Secretary, will be set up to make sure that learners are at the heart of the reforms.
Development of a National Digital Academy, bringing provision of Highers to a wide variety of learners irrespective of location, school, or age.
Promotion of, and support for, outdoor learning, including trialling Scotland’s first outdoor primary learning facilities.
Launch of a Race Equality and Anti-Racism in Education Programme, and funding to support delivery of the recommendations of the LGBT Inclusive Education Working Group.
The development of engaging and relevant guidance and materials to teach young people about consent and healthy relationships.
Out of School
A system of wraparound childcare will be developed, which will offer care before and after school and in the holidays, free to families on the lowest incomes. Families and communities – including children and young people – will be involved in designing options for this.
A School Leavers’ Toolkit will be developed to support young people after they leave school. It will include practical information about budgeting and finances, as well as guidance on how to exercise their full democratic rights as citizens.
Early Learning and Childcare
Funded early learning and childcare will be expanded to children aged 1 and 2, starting with low-income households. Engagement with families, the early learning sector and academics will start this year to design how this will work.
Children’s Rights
£4 million will be invested between now and March 2024 to support public services to consistently uphold children’s rights, following the Scottish Parliament’s unanimous passing of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.