Seòmar agus comataidhean

Forgive me. I was asking about outdoor learning in general.

On the point that the Government does not know how many people and, in particular, how many people with additional support needs, are accessing such residential trips, does the Government accept that, in order to deliver on its existing commitments in that area, it really should know that?

Yes.

In the Government’s response, it has said—and you have repeated on the record this morning—that it

“is committed to improving outdoor learning provision ... ensuring that all learners are experiencing regular, enjoyable, and challenging outdoor learning experiences”.

As far back as the 2021-22 programme for government, Government said:

“We will make sure that pupils from lower-income families can take part in school trips, providing support for children to go on curriculum-related trips and activities”.

In our evidence sessions on the bill, Tara Lillis from the NASUWT, and others, have told us that there are “significant barriers” to participation under current provision, including costs to schools, particular barriers for specialist settings to access appropriate facilities and other

“systemic barriers to participation that align with ... equality duties”.—[Official Report, Education, Children and Young People Committee, 13 November 2024; c 5.]

What is the Government’s assessment of the proportion of pupils who have the opportunity to undertake residential outdoor education?

I appreciate that, minister, but I want to understand what is happening.

We know that work is continuing—the minister and the Government regularly describe the on-going work. The fact remains, however, that a high number of pupils are still struggling to access outdoor learning because of the lack of support and the barriers that the NASUWT highlighted to the committee.

Should the bill be passed, has the Government made any plans to implement it in order to see some of the changes that are required?

Has it made any plans for implementation, if the bill is passed as part of the solution to the problems that we are discussing.

If the bill is passed to make change happen, rather than just having the existing strategies and systems that the Government is speaking about, it could drive the change that is required. Has the Government made any plans for how it would be implemented?

Yes.

In the information that we got in advance of today’s meeting, we heard that Disclosure Scotland had used a range of communications channels to provide information about the new requirements. We have heard about the timescale that has already passed. What has that communication and engagement been doing?

Finally, do you think that the on-going work that you have highlighted is the be-all and end-all in this regard?

With regard to some of the gaps in the data, how did the Government come to the alternative financial memorandum that it has proposed?