Investing in a better future
Improving life chances for young Scots by investing in early years, schools and skills are the keys to a better future for Scotland, Education Secretary Michael Russell said today.
Mr Russell set out the Scottish Government’s priorities for education during a visit to Tollcross Primary School in Edinburgh. He was joined by the Minister for Learning and Skills Alasdair Allan and Minister for Children and Young People Angela Constance.
Priorities include continuing Curriculum for Excellence, supporting our teachers and a greater focus on early years and looked-after children.
Mr Russell said:
My focus for the next term of Government will be on improving life chances for all children and young people in Scotland. I want to make sure that every child has a fair start in life and we are working across government to ensure we improve opportunities for all young Scots.
“To make this a reality, we will provide access to an education that’s fair and equal, excellent and ambitious. What’s more we will invest in the early years to prevent children from taking the wrong roads in life and support a successful future.
“By getting it right in the early years and in schools and balancing the needs of young people with the needs of the labour market, we can prevent any talent going to waste. I believe that our investment in young Scots today is an investment in a better future.”
Mr Russell, Dr Allan and Ms Constance talking to pupils at Tollcross Primary
Minister for Learning and Skills Alasdair Allan said:
“I am delighted to be joining Michael and Angela on my first school visit as part of the Education team and to be visiting a Gaelic Medium class. I firmly believe that Scotland’s schools are providing a great education for our pupils and that our teachers are doing a good job.
“I am looking forward to building on these strengths through Curriculum for Excellence, which will give our young people the skills they need for learning, life and work. I will also be focused on joining up skills development to ensure every young person has the best chance and the best choices for their future.”
Minister for Children and Young People Angela Constance said:
“I am looking forward to the new challenge of leading the Government’s work on early years. We know that for every £1 invested in a child’s early years can generate an eventual saving of £9 for the taxpayer, so quite simply we can’t afford not to prioritise the early years.
“We must invest in this key area and support our children’s readiness and ambition to learn in school. It is also important that we work to achieve greater stability and faster, better decision making for our most vulnerable, including looked-after children. These strands of work will help make sure each and every child has the opportunity to reach their potential and play a full part in Scotland’s future.”
4 comments
Some questions:
1)” I want to make sure that every child has a fair start in life and we are working across government to ensure we improve opportunities for all young Scots”.
Will the Secretary ensure that no more Councils propose recruiting unqualified people to look after early years children?
2″I will also be focused on joining up skills development to ensure every young person has the best chance and the best choices for their future.”
Will the Minister investigate why so many Councils have now seriously limited choice in secondary shools under the banner of CfE?
3)”It is also important that we work to achieve greater stability and faster, better decision making for our most vulnerable, including looked-after children”.
Will the Minister explain why most Councils have drastically cut SfL and other areas of specific care?
Finally, one for all three:
Will the Scottish Government undertake to investigate the … … salaries and benefits (golden handsakes / goodbyes / … … pensions etc) enjoyed by members of COSLA, most of whom enjoy incomes far greater than those of Scottish Government Ministers?
… Edited by Community Manager
AnActualTeacher
Many thanks for your questions, I hope you will find the answers below useful.
1. Individual employers are responsible for recruitment and employment conditions. However, those employed in day care of children services must register with the Scottish Social Services Council, the regulator for the social services workforce. Registration requires relevant qualifications for role and the continuous update of related knowledge and skills.
2. It is the responsibility of schools and their partners to deliver experiences and outcomes and apply the learner entitlements to produce strong curriculum programmes. The Senior Phase, usually between 15-18, builds firmly on the above and should continue to offer personalisation and choice.
There are no fixed rules regarding subject choices in secondary schools. This is a decision for schools to make in consultation with their learners and parents. Every school is different and this flexibility in approach is key to Curriculum for Excellence, allowing schools to meet both individual and local needs.
Find further information on understanding the Curriculum for Excellence on the LTS website
3. Local authorities, rather than Scottish Government, assess and prioritise level of need per area. However, they have a legal duty* to identify, meet and review the additional support needs of all pupils within their educational responsibility, including looked after children and young people. They are required to tailor provision, make appropriate education plans and provide support according individual circumstances. Local authorities ensure they meet these duties and parents have the right to challenge decisions as cases can be taken to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal Scotland.”
4. All 32 local authorities are members of COSLA and provide funding to the organisation.
It is not a government body and Scottish Ministers have no direct control over the level of salary paid to its members. However legislation does provide Scottish Ministers with powers to determine the salary and allowances paid to councillors. A review of councillors salaries was undertaken in 2010 and the recommendations from this were published in March 2011. The Scottish Government is considering the recommendations and will respond in due course.
* Under the (Additional Support for Leaning) (Scotland) Act 2004, as amended.
Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning
I am heartened to hear that early years is being recognised as a priority “Improving life chances for young Scots by investing in early years, schools and skills are the keys to a better future for Scotland” (Mike Russell, 2/6/11) but hope that this is more than rhetoric. As an organisation we provide resources and CPD for teachers and early years educators are amongst the most enthusiastic and committed. We take a global citizenship approach which complements and exemplifies Curriculum for Excellence in a way which teachers and young people readily relate to. It would be good to see some real investment in the professional development of those who are involved in the care and education of pre school children. This would go some way to acknowledging the importance of this role.
“To make this a reality, we will provide access to an education that’s fair and equal, excellent and ambitious. What’s more we will invest in the early years to prevent children from taking the wrong roads in life and support a successful future.” (Michael Russell.)
Cabinet Secretary, now that you are no longer a minority Government can you indicate when we might see all children enjoying the same level of GTC registered teachers directly teaching in our early years centres? Currently as I have already posted this issue is a postcode lottery as individual councils make individual decisions on the level of teacher presence(or none) in early years establishments. Hardly fair, equal, excellent or ambitious.