Summary

  • The education committee continues its inquiry into the Scottish national standardised assessments

  • The Scotties Tories lead debates on education and crime

  • An SNP MSP highlights the Equally Safe at Work scheme

  1. Greens to back the government amendment, but not the Tory motionpublished at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Green MSP John FinnieImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Green MSP John Finnie

    Green MSP John Finnie tells the chamber he has a fixed-penalty notice in his hands, to titters from the chamber.

    Mr Finnie points out he has a number of them, but they don't have his name on them.

    He says rather than try and resolve something there and then, Police Scotland are adopting a problem solving approach, not concluding the matter by handing them a fixed-penalty notice.

    The Green MSP calls for the schemes mentioned by the minister to be properly resourced, and concludes saying his party will back the government amendment but not the Tory motion.

  2. Labour tables an ammendment, calling for the causes to be dealt withpublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Daniel Johnson

    Daniel Johnson starts by saying prevention is better than cure.

    The Labour MSP says it is often lower level crime that has the biggest impact on communities, and calls for more funding for policing.

    He says: "we must be tough on crime, but also tough on the causes of crime."

    Daniel Johnson's ammendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  3. 'Our approach is robust, it is holistic, and it will build the Scotland we all want to see'published at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    SNP MSP Ash DenhamImage source, bbc

    Community Safety Minister Ash Denham begins by saying tackling anti-social behaviour requires a partnership approach and insists all the evidence suggests there is a sustained reduction in anti-social behaviour.

    That's not the perception in communities, intervenes Mr Kerr.

    Ms Denham reiterates her point, and goes on to say that since 2008 the government has provided £92m for Cashback for Communities, external, delivering nearly £2m for activities and opportunities across Scotland.

    She says some £17m from that, between 2017-20, will focus on the tackling of inequalities and also praises the No Knives, Better Lives Campaign, external.

    "Our approach is robust, it is holistic, and it will build the Scotland we all want to see."

    SNP amendmentImage source, bbc
  4. Tory MSP calls for increased penalty for more serious anti-social behaviourpublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Tory MSP Liam KerrImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr says there were 340,000 anti-social behaviour incidents last year, and the statistics are on the rise.

    These incidents can be debilitating and terrifying for some, and deprived communities suffer the most, Mr Kerr explains.

    He says police officers have the power to give an on-the-spot fine for low level crime, and at the moment it is a fine of £50 which then becomes £70 and goes to the court if unpaid.

    The Tory MSP calls for the introduction of an increased penalty for more serious anti-social behaviour.

    He calls for the £50 tier to be maintained, but says the tier for the most serious offences should be £100.

    "It's time to make the fine fit the crime."

  5. Tory debate on tackling anti-social behaviourpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Anti-social behaviour

    The Scottish Conservatives will now lead a debate on how best to tackle anti-social behaviour.

    Earlier this year the party called for the police to be given the power to issue stiffer fines for anti-social behaviour.

    The higher level of fixed penalty notice would be intended for offenders who currently receive a £50 fine, not for incidents deemed serious enough for the courts system.

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr's motionImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr's motion

  6. Closing speeches from the mainstreaming debatepublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    As we turn to the closing speeches, Mary Fee for Labour thanks Inclusion Scotland and Enable Scotland for their briefings.

    Ms Fee says one of the main challenges for schools who are mainstreaming is resourcing.

    Education Secretary Mr Swinney pledges to respond to the calls from MSPs to secure more debating time on mainstreaming in the future.

    Labour MSP Mary Fee, Education Secretary John Swinney and Tory MSP Oliver MundellImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Mary Fee, Education Secretary John Swinney and Tory MSP Oliver Mundell

    Mr Swinney says he is conscious of the pressures of resources, and points out the Tory party supports reduced money to the public purse through its tax policy.

    Tory MSP Oliver Mundell welcomes the cabinet secretary picking up on the "strong hint" that MSPs want the government to use its debating time to tackle this subject.

    "We are not getting it right for every child in Scotland," insists Mr Mundell, adding there are "systematic issues here" and current practices are simply not good enough.

    Like other MSPs, he highlights issues around the mainstreaming of pupils with autism.

  7. MSP says there is a lack of consistency around the country in terms of ASNpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Mark McDonald

    Independent MSP Mark McDonald starts his response by saying his son has additional support needs, and is on the autism spectrum.

    The Aberdeen Donside MSP says ASN covers a very large number of children, with varying degrees of support needed.

    He says there is a lack of consistency around the country, and says the system needs to get it right for every child.

    He continues, saying too many families are being let down.

  8. 'Children's needs are not fixed'published at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Jenny Gilruth

    The SNP's Jenny Gilruth says children are more readily assessed for support, and are being assessed at an earlier stage.

    She points to a newspaper report claiming an increase in the number of support teachers, but a fall in the number of behavioural support teachers.

    The Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP says teachers are professionals who are trained to help all children, including those with ASN.

    She says children's needs are not fixed, and admits there have been problems in mainstreaming.

  9. Appropriate support for every child must be given - Tory MSPpublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Tory MSP Jeremy BalfourImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour

    Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour says "back in the Dark Ages" when he went to school, his parents made the choice to send him to a mainstream school, and he welcomes the government's move toward this.

    Mr Balfour adds that every child's needs must be looked at, not just educational, but emotional and social.

    He calls for a review to see that every child is getting the education they need, and for the appropriate support for every child.

    Many teachers are having to firefight in the classroom, acting like policemen rather than teachers, he says.

    The Tory MSP fully accepts that mainstreaming should be the first choice, but it should not be forced on parents due to financial grounds.

  10. Lib Dem MSP highlights long queues to get diagnoses for those with ASNspublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Alex Cole-Hamilton, for the Lib DemsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Alex Cole-Hamilton, for the Lib Dems

    Alex Cole-Hamilton, for the Lib Dems, says every child has a right to education.

    He says many children with complex needs are being unlawfully excluded from school, because schools do not have enough specialist teachers.

    The MSP also says there are long queues to get diagnoses for those with ASNs, saying the system is letting those children down.

    He says integration needs to be backed up with funding and support staff.

  11. 'My autistic son was unlawfully excluded from school'published at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Debbie won an appeal against her autistic son's exclusion from schoolImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Debbie won an appeal against her autistic son's exclusion from school

    When 18-year-old Aidan was surprised by a teacher at school last December, he lashed out.

    An autistic teenager, his mother said he was understandably startled when the woman put her head through a gap in a screen.

    He didn't have a meltdown, he was not angry but his reaction lead to his exclusion from the additional support needs school where he was a pupil.

    He was excluded for three days in December 2017 but when his family tried to take him back, they were told there was no longer a place for him.

    His mother, Debbie, told BBC Radio Scotland that they won an appeal against the exclusion.

    But Aidan was never able to return to school and the rest of the family was put under almost unbearable pressure.

  12. Clearly we don't have the resources for mainstreaming - Labour MSPpublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Labour MSP Iain GrayImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Iain Gray

    Labour MSP Iain Gray explains he is committed to the ideology of mainstreaming, citing his own experience as a teacher.

    Mr Gray says mainstreaming is the right policy, but without resources and specialist expertise it is not really a policy at all.

    He adds: "clearly we don't have the resources following year on year cuts to local government."

    The Labour MSP says for too many children with autism, their mainstreaming ends up with part-time education, and exclusion.

    Labour amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  13. Government has done a lot to help pupils who need extra support - Swinneypublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Mr Swinney says the Scottish government has done a lot to help pupils who need extra support in class.

    The cabinet secretary says local authorities need to keep lines of communication open with families, to decide on the best way forward for individual children.

    Mr Swinney says he is very committed to ensuring children receive the support they need in school.

    The education secretary tells the chamber the government has set out its commitment to improve consistency of support across Scotland.

  14. 'Equity for all can only be achieved through an inclusive education system'published at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Education Secretary John SwinneyImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Education Secretary John Swinney

    Education Secretary John Swinney says the judgement on what is appropriate for a pupil should be based on their needs.

    "Equity for all can only be achieved through an inclusive education system," says Mr Swinney.

    He adds the OECD has recognised Scotland has one of the most equitable education systems.

    The presumption of mainstreaming for those with ASN is a cornerstone of Scotland's system, says Mr Swinney.

    amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament
  15. Current system not up to scratchpublished at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Ms Smith says it's important to listen to teachers, claiming the current system is "inhibiting" pupil development, and leading to disrupted classes.

    The Conservative MSP says current financial circumstances are making the situation worse, and claims the SNP is to blame for cutting teacher numbers.

    Ms Smith points to an underspend of the attainment fund, and says there are some specialist schools that have places, like the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.

    She says specialist care means the provision of specialist services.

    Much more has to be done within teacher training courses to ensure all teachers are aware of ASN needs, adds the Tory MSP.

    No-one pretends that this is an easy issue, but this situation cannot continue, she says.

    ClassroomImage source, bbc
  16. 'Inclusion must, however, not be taken to mean the same thing as mainstreaming'published at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    Tory MSP Liz SmithImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Liz Smith

    Tory MSP Liz Smith begins by agreeing with the OECD, which stated in 2002 the importance of inclusive education in Scotland.

    "Inclusion must however not be taken to mean the same thing as mainstreaming," she says.

    Ms Smith points out there are many people who are in mainstream schools who do not feel included.

    She says the number of ASN (Additional Support Needs) pupils has doubled since 2011, and yet the number of specialist schools has fallen.

    A significant minority of children are not flourishing in mainstream education, says the Tory MSP.

  17. Postpublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

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  18. Background: How inclusive is mainstream education in Scotland?published at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    By Ian Hamilton BBC Scotland

    TeachingImage source, Getty Images

    In 2016 our reporter Ian Hamilton compiled this report into mainstreaming.

    We have now had 16 years of mainstream education for children with disabilities in Scotland.

    After decades of struggle for a more equal society, it is now presumed that every disabled child will get the opportunity to attend a mainstream school where possible.

    However, what does real inclusion mean in practice and is the system a success? Or are disabled children drifting to the back of the class?

    In my documentary Am I Included?- which is being shown this week at 19:30 on Wednesday on BBC One Scotland - I get the opportunity of putting this question to not only the professionals, but also to the students and their families.

    BBC Scotland reporter Ian HamiltonImage source, bbc

    Read more here.

  19. Tory debate on mainstreamingpublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    EducationImage source, bbc

    The Scottish Conservatives will now lead a debate on mainstreaming in education.

    MotionImage source, Scottish Parliament
  20. Brexit will have 'significant wide-ranging negative impact on Scotland's culture'published at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2019

    The culture secretary says there will be a significant wide-ranging negative impact on Scotland's culture as highlighted by a recent Ernst and Young report.

    Ms Hyslop cites EU funding of at least £59m for Scottish cultural projects in 2017.