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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave a statement entitled 'Taking Scotland Forward', outlining her programme for government
MSPs then debated the programme for government
Ms Sturgeon says: "As I have already made clear, the defining mission of this government will be education.
"That is because we want every child to have a fair chance in life and we know that a good education is the foundation of that."
Ms Sturgeon says inequality has its roots well outside schools and it must be tackled there and in our schools.
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Forgotten what was in the SNP's manifesto? Worry not here's a wee recap:
The manifesto promised to invest £750m in education, with a focus on helping pupils from deprived backgrounds.
At the launch Ms Sturgeon said closing the attainment gap in education would form "the defining mission" of her next government.
She promised to invest £750m in education, with a focus on helping pupils from deprived backgrounds.
Image source, Thinkstock; Getty Images; SPL; Alamy; PA; Scottish ParliamentPriorities for the new cabinet include education, the NHS, climate change and baby boxes for newborns
The manifest stated there would be increase NHS funding by £500m more than inflation over the five years.
It also included a commitment to "baby boxes" full of essentials to parents of all newborns.
And it set up an ambitious new target to cut emissions by 50% by 2020 as part of the fight against climate change.
Image source, EPATime for a recap of the SNP manifesto
Nicola Sturgeon says her manifesto was her job application.
"It is now our blueprint for delivery."
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon begins her statement talking about "true equality for all".
Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh gets us underway with parliamentary bureau motions.
At decision time MSPs will vote on a parliamentary bureau motion to extend future sessions of first minister's questions to 45 minutes.
Image source, bbcNicola Sturgeon will face questions from Sottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson first each week
The first minister has reshuffled her cabinet with her key priorities in mind, introducing separate finance and economy portfolios and shifting her deputy John Swinney to the education brief.
Image source, bbc/PAFinance Secretary Derek Mackay, Economy Secretary Keith Brown and Education Secretary John Swinney must lead on the government's top priorities
As one of its first actions, the cabinet has established an international council of schools experts to advise the government on education policy.
During the election campaign, Ms Sturgeon repeatedly underlined education as the issue that she wanted to be "judged on" during the coming Holyrood term.
Quote MessageEducation is the key focus, and one of the first decisions taken at the first cabinet meeting since the election was the formation of an International Council of Education Advisers – a panel of internationally renowned experts to advise on improvements to Scotland’s education system. I want our country to be a global leader in education through learning lessons from around the world – it is simply the most important tool we have for ensuring every youngster living in Scotland today has the support they need to pursue success.
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister
Securing a vote to stay in the EU will be "front and centre" of the new Scottish government's early priorities, Nicola Sturgeon has told her party.
The first minister said her cabinet will also begin "laying the groundwork" for delivering their election manifesto pledges over the next Parliament.
It came after Willie Rennie accused the SNP of taking Scottish votes to remain in the EU for granted.
The Scottish Lib Dem leader said that could risk a growth in the leave vote.
Image source, AFP/Getty ImagesSturgeon says staying in the EU is a priority for her governemnt
On Friday, Jim Sillars - a former SNP deputy leader who is campaigning in favour of Brexit - accused the party's current leadership of living in "a parallel universe" by campaigning to remain in the European Union when they want to take Scotland out of the United Kingdom.
MSPs will debate the EU referendum tomorrow morning from 10am, which of course you can watch live with us.
Nicola Sturgeon will outline education and the economy as her top priorities in her ministerial statement entitled 'Taking Scotland Forward', which kicks off at 2pm.
The SNP has formed a minority administration in the Scottish Parliament after returning 63 MSPs in the election earlier in May.
Image source, bbcEconomy and education are the priorities for the Scottish government
Ms Sturgeon has said the result gives her party a mandate to implement the manifesto it stood on in the election.
Opposition parties will have the chance to outline their own policies during a chamber debate.
Good afternoon and welcome to Holyrood live coverage of the Scottish Parliament as the first minister prepares to outline her priorities for her government for the next term.
Image source, PANicola Sturgeon's programme for government should strongly reflect the SNP manifesto
The statement will be followed by a debate in the chamber on the programme for government.