John Swinney is facing renewed scrutiny over his plan to reopen schools full-time after councils claimed they were not consulted.
An amendment agreed by local authority leaders also called on the SNP Government to hand over the scientific advice on which the decision was made.
Swinney, as chair of the Government’s Covid Education Recovery Group (CERG), announced plans for schools to go back on August 11th.
However, his initial proposal was for a part-time ‘blended’ learning model.
The proposals, necessitated by the two metre social distancing rule, angered parents and led to Swinney providing an “update” to MSPs.
In his statement, Swinney said the progress made in suppressing the virus meant preparations should be made for full-time schooling.
However, an amendment passed today by COSLA leaders, the umbrella group for councils, criticised the Government.
It stated: “Note the decision by the Deputy First Minister to change the central planning assumption from a blended learning approach to returning to school to a full return for all pupils in August but express disappointment that this decision was taken with no consultation with local authorities, trade unions or other stakeholders."
The amendment, which passed 17 votes to 15, also requested that the scientific advice made available to the Scottish Government should be provided to COSLA and council leaders.
Another section stated: “Instruct COSLA officers to obtain legal advice in relation to the respective responsibilities for deciding on the safe opening of schools, or the future closure of schools in the event of an outbreak of Covid19 in a school.”
It came after Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS teachers’ union, claimed Swinney’s statement had not been an “agreed outcome” by CERG.
In a statement on the EIS website, Flanagan claimed: “That is certainly a shift in planning emphasis from the Scottish Government. Essentially it is a "Maybes Aye; Maybes Naw" scenario, as ultimately the decision is dependent on where the level of Covid 19 infection will be in seven weeks time.”
COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson Councillor Stephen McCabe said:
“Leaders agreed that the safety of children and young people should be at the heart of the return to school and that councils, staff, parents and children and young people will need to be assured that the scientific advice allows for a full return in August.
“Leaders also agreed that there should be flexibility around a full return in August to ensure that robust local plans can be developed and put in place."
Cllr David Ross, Leader of the Labour Group on COSLA, said:
“Everyone has the well-being of our children at heart. We all want to see them back at school after what has been an extremely challenging few months and parents, staff and children want to know that a return to school is safe.
“Councils are committed to working constructively with the Scottish Government to achieve the safe return to school, that’s why we were disappointed that John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister, announced plans for a full reopening of schools in August without consultation with local authorities, trade unions or other stakeholders.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“We have been working closely with COSLA throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and we discussed the plan to fully re-open schools with them in advance of the Deputy First Minister’s statement. The Education Recovery Group, which brings together the Scottish Government, our local authority partners, parents, teachers’ organisations and trades unions, will continue to meet over the summer to oversee next steps.”
