SNP MSP George Adam says there is not enough sharing of good schemes across local authorities.

The education secretary says "collaboration has to be front and centre of the Curriculum for Excellence".

SNP MSP George Adam says local authorities felt they were losing flexibility over the teacher pupil ratios being imposed on them.

Ms Constance says one of the most important factors in raising attainment is the quality of teaching.

She says she fails to see how reducing the number of high quality teachers in our schools will help tackle the attainment gap.

Ms Constance says the local government settlement includes £88m to maintain the pupil teacher ratio.

Education Secretary Angela Constance says the government has been absolutely clear about the priority placed on education, to drive up attainment and close the attainment gap.

Ms Constance says the Attainment Scotland Fund provides £100m to the most deprived areas.

That ends the first evidence session, there will be a brief suspension before the education secretary appears before MSPs.

Labour MSP Mark Griffin asks if the targets for reducing the attainment gap are realistic with the budget cuts.

Councillor Gary Robinson says it could be done but local authorities need more flexibility to deliver it.

"It is challenging but possible", he says.

Councillor Malcolm Cunning says it's less likely given the financial constraints.

Councillor Paul Godzik agrees it will be difficult with the current budget cuts.

The first minister will give an emergency statement on the stalled fiscal framework negotiations from around 2.20pm.

This means that decision time will move to 6.30pm and SNP MSP Dennis Robertson's debate highlighting Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2016 will begin after that.

Image source, bbc

Due to the extraordinary evidence session with Scottish Secretary David Mundell, before the Devolution Committee, we will have to leave the member's debate at 6.40pm.

If you wish to watch the whole of the member's debate on Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2016, can we point you in the direction of the Scottish Parliament's chamber coverage, external. 

Tory MSP Liz Smith asks what can be done to increase flexibility so there are more teachers for all subjects. 

Councillor Robert Nicol from COSLA says workforce planning is a difficult thing to do but the system needs looked at to ensure the right people are being recruited as teachers. 

Councillor Gary Robinson says Shetland Islands Council are trying but constant cuts to funding are making it more difficult.

Mr Robinson says if this continues it may decrease the attainment gap but not in a positive way because he fears his authority's attainment levels will come down. 

Image source, bbc

Mr Robinson says if this continues it may decrease the attainment gap but not in a positive way because he fears his authority's attainment levels will come down.  

Councillor Ian Robertson of Glasgow City Council says local authorities are getting better at sharing information.

Mr Robertson says sometimes they are modest and don't want to shout about things they are doing well.

SNP MSP Chic Brodie disagrees that is the reason for not sharing best practices. 

"It's all to do with turf wars and personalities", he says. 

Councillor Stephanie Primrose from COSLA says her council has gone from seven heads of service to one. 

 "We are very lean at the moment." 

Councillor Ian Robertson of Glasgow City Council says his authority is being pushed down several practical routes to create flexibility.

Mr Robertson says Glasgow City Council are looking at pupils travelling between schools within the city to study certain highers to ensure decent class sizes.

Twilight study hours are also being looked at, he says.

Mr Robertson says this should also help students to mature and cope with new challenges. 

Robert Nicol from COSLA says the cuts will not make closing the attainment gap any easier.

Councillor Stephanie Primrose from COSLA says our most vulnerable children's services will have to be looked at due to the cuts. 

Ms Primrose says her big concern is that these services will be the ones that will be hit. 

All 32 local authorities in Scotland have accepted the Scottish government's funding deal worth £10.3bn.

Finance Secretary John Swinney welcomed the settlement which will mean the council tax freeze continuing for a ninth year.

However, many authorities said they had accepted only reluctantly.

Local government body Cosla claimed that in order to make the deal work councils would need to cut services and axe jobs.

Mr Swinney insisted that the "package of funding" would enable local authorities to "increase the pace of reform and improve essential public services to communities all over the country".

Councillor Paul Godzik says for 16/17 Edinburgh Council are  expecting £11m worth of savings.

Mr Godzik says Edinburgh Council are trying to protect education services but there are things such as music tuition that is having to be looked at. 

Councillor Gary Robinson from Shetland Islands Council agrees it will be very difficult.

He says he does not recognise the 1% cut quoted by ministers.

"It is becoming extremely difficult to maintain education expenditure."

Councillor Malcolm Cunning says Glasgow will have to make savings of  £133m over two years which will clearly have an impact on education services.

He says teacher pupil ratios will have to be maintained. 

Decisions have yet to be made, but you may well find there are fewer support staff adding pressure to teachers.

"It will be very, very difficult."

Coucillor Stephanie Primrose from COSLA says the teaching profession has changed to become  far more focused on pupils.

Ms Primrose says the curriculum for excellence has helped with this.

We are now catering for individuals and this is key to raising attainment, she says. 

MSPs voted to set a Scottish rate of income tax for the first time, opting to keep rates at current levels.

Holyrood has been given new powers over the income tax rate, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats calling for a 1p increase to raise extra funds for public services like education. 

However, finance secretary John Swinney insisted the rate should stay the same. 

After a heated Holyrood debate on the topic, MSPs voted by 74 to 35 to accept the government's plan to maintain the income tax at current levels. 

Opposition parties said an increase could create funds to protect services, but Mr Swinney said it would punish taxpayers on low incomes.