The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pledge that wellbeing of pupils will be priority
Emphasis placed on physical and mental health when schools reopen in August
Children’s physical and mental wellbeing will be prioritised above everything else when schools reopen in August, it has been pledged.
The Scottish Government and teaching unions said supporting youngsters after a potentially traumatic few months would be of the utmost importance when they return to the classroom.
Unions warned, however, that school staff would also require support to keep them “sane and healthy” during what they described as the biggest curriculum challenge of the century.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said getting young people to mix and play together again was as important as meeting educational challenges but advised that significantly more resources were needed to ensure a blend of school and home learning worked for children.
“Schools have been stripped out of educational psychologists and specialist additional support staff.
“We need more counsellors and specialist staff. All of that requires additional resource.”
Addressing the Scottish Parliament’s education committee, Mr Flanagan also called for assurances that money would be made available to pay for the IT equipment needed to allow all children to access school work from home.
Jim Thewlis, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, which represents senior staff in secondary schools, said: “It’s important that schools, school leadership and the wider community have realistic expectations about what we can do and what the journey back to normality is going to look like.”
Education Secretary John Swinney said schools, classrooms and ways of learning would be completely different for a few months after schools opened.
“The education system, as well as young people and their families will need help and support to adapt.
“The guidance states that teachers should be confident in prioritising their pupils’ physical and mental wellbeing over anything else as the best way of supporting children and young people back into learning.”