Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Appeal for rethink over nursery graduation ban
A nursery industry body is asking the Scottish Government to reconsider its coronavirus guidance which means families are unable to attend youngsters’ end-of-term leaving ceremonies before heading to primary school.
Thousands of parents in North Lanarkshire have signed an online petition asking to be able to attend, while SNP MSPS Fulton Macgregor and Neil Gray have also asked for the attendance ban to be reconsidered, saying outdoor and socially distanced events could be accommodated under current level two Covid restrictions.
Responding to a tweeted reminder of the guidance from the Scottish Government, the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland asked that individual establishments be allowed to make “sensible” decisions on how to mark the occasion.
Policy manager Jane Malcolm said: “We know many have been planning outdoor events in small groups and would ask that these are allowed to go ahead; we are urging the Scottish Government to reconsider its advice.
“Nurseries have introduced a wide range of measures to keep children, staff and parents safe and should be trusted to make sensible judgements about their settings and ability to be able to mark children’s graduation within government guidance.”
She added: “Last year we know our member nurseries celebrated this momentous occasion with their children and parents in safe, creative ways.
“These were enjoyable and important events for children who have missed out on so much
over the past 18 months.”
A thread posted last week on the Scottish Government’s childcare Twitter account, @ Elcscotgov, read: “We know moving from nursery to school is a big step and it’s important that these transitions are acknowledged and celebrated with our children.
“This year, we’ll need to do that while remembering the Covid guidance in place – this means that settings aren’t able to invite groups of parents to celebration events, even if outdoors.”
It added: “This may feel different from other areas where restrictions are being
eased, but we must remember how important it is to keep our children in nursery and our staff safe.”
Meghan Gallacher, the Central Scotland MSP, has also raised the issue at Holyrood, submitting a written question asking the Scottish Government “whether it has reviewed the guidance on whether parents and guardians can attend nursery and school graduations”.
The Conservative member said: “Parents and nurseries are being treated unfairly.
“It’s not good enough for the Scottish Government to leave clarification on ways graduations
can be celebrated to the last minute.”
North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim Logue said last week that the ban on parent attendance is in line with government regulations and “the consistent advice offered by NHS Lanarkshire to both North and South Lanarkshire councils”.
Local authority officials say that minimising the numbers present at end-of-term celebrations by asking families not to attend is an important infection control measure, stating: “There are restrictions in place in order to try and mitigate the risk of transmission of Covid-19.
“Celebratory events such as early years or Primary Seven graduations will be done virtually, on premises and preferably outdoors.
“Events will ensure that class groups or bubbles are maintained.
“Advice on leaver and transition activities is that this can be done on the premises with staff as we still need to comply with the Scottish Government advice to keep external visitors to a minimum, use small groups, host them outdoors and with limited adult involvement, which means that parents and carers should not attend.”