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We have no plans to update the experimental analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on Fuel Poverty Rates, which we published in September. The report provided estimates of the likely effects on fuel poverty rates under a wide range of scenarios. These considered the impact of varying levels of unemployment, while also taking account of the rate of furlough and modelled assumptions about the likely effects of factors such as the increased prevalence of home working on household heating and energy costs. The scenarios presented in the report are still considered to be valid and we believe they continue to cover comprehensively the range of possible impacts on fuel poverty rates arising from the COVID-19 outbreak.

In light of the publication of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Scotland's Strategic Framework on 23 October 2020, the Coronavirus (COVID-19): organised activities for children guidance for organised activities and services for children was updated on 12 November 2020. The guidance is not an instruction for all services and activities to open up at this time, since this will be based on the requirements that need to be met, relevant to each individual delivery setting. Private providers should read this guidance in conjunction with guidance for small businesses: Coronavirus (COVID-19): small and micro businesses guidance

Our updated guidance on reducing risks in schools is intended to keep schools safe, open and welcoming for staff and pupils. It has been updated to align with the levels under the Covid-19 Strategic Framework, and to keep schools as safe as possible.

The measures put in place across wider society at different levels of the Strategic Framework have been designed precisely to avoid any automatic move to school closures. However, the updated guidance makes clear that the use of targeted, remote learning remains an important contingency at all levels of the Strategic Framework where specific schools require either to close, or to implement remote learning for some children for a defined period of time, as a result of local outbreaks or staff self-isolating.

We have very clear evidence that time out of school can have a detrimental effect on children and young people’s wellbeing, including impacts on educational, developmental and mental health harms. A further evidence paper on school safety will be published alongside further information from Public Health Scotland, in the coming days.

We continue to work in close partnership with unions, staff and local authorities on ensuring protection measures are in place in our schools to reduce the risk of Covid-19 and preserve education for our children and young people.

Recent SAGE advice, based on ONS data and published on 13 November, indicates no difference between the positivity rates of pre-school, primary and secondary school staff, relative to other worker groups.

Our updated guidance on reducing risks in schools is intended to keep schools safe, open and welcoming for staff and pupils. It includes guidance on workforce planning, developed with input from local authority partners. This makes clear that local authorities and headteachers, working in close partnership with unions and staff, are best placed to make judgements about how to make best use of available workforce capacity safely and effectively.

To support these efforts, and ensure resilience in the school workforce ,the Scottish Government has made £80m available to local authorities for the recruitment of additional teachers and support staff. To date, local authority figures indicate they have already recruited 1,250 additional teachers and 155 support staff, with an estimated further 200 teachers and 100 support staff planned.

Guidance has also been updated to align with the levels under the Covid-19 Strategic Framework, and includes details of enhanced protection measures to keep schools as safe as possible. This guidance includes strengthened guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable staff, as well as details of testing and surveillance arrangements for school staff.

The first phase of the Contingency Fund was announced on 27 October and will provide grants of up to £50,000 to nightclubs and pay to play soft play centres in recognition of the fact that, prior to the introduction of the Strategic Framework, they have been closed by regulation nationally since March. As the first phase of the fund was targeted specifically at these two sectors there is no flexibility for local authorities in distributing this funding. We have, however, worked closely with both local authorities and sector representatives in developing the eligibility criteria and delivery mechanism for this financial support.

On 17 November, the First Minister also announced a £30 million discretionary fund for local authorities. How local authorities choose to spend this fund in supporting businesses is at their discretion based on the specific needs of their local economies - such as supporting supply chains. Further details of this fund will be announced shortly.

We are continuing to consider where the remainder of the Contingency Fund would be most effectively deployed in supporting businesses impact by restrictions.

We committed £11 million to the Contingency Fund when it was announced as part of the COVID-19 Restrictions Fund. A first phase of awards through this fund was announced on 27 October which provided grants of up to £50,000 for nightclubs and soft play centres in recognition of the fact that, prior to the Strategic Framework coming into force, had been closed since March. The Contingency Fund has proven itself to be an effective mechanism for targeting funding towards these sectors.

In recognition of the changing nature of the pandemic and the variable impact of restrictions on different sectors we keep all of our funds under review to ensure that we can target financial support appropriately. This is of course contingent, however, on the Scottish Government having access to the funding that it requires to support businesses.

Guidance on distributing the first phase of the Contingency Fund which awarded grants to nightclubs and pay to play soft play centres was issued to councils and included detailed eligibility criteria developed in partnership with local authorities and sectoral representatives. This guidance has enabled local authorities to contact eligible businesses directly negating the need for an application process.

We are continuing to consider where the remainder of the Contingency Fund would be most effectively deployed in supporting businesses impact by restriction and an announcement on this will be made in due course.

In order to support online remote learning, Education Scotland supports the Glow platform, which provides free access to a range of online tools and services for all school aged learners and teachers in Scotland. The National e-Learning Offer, launched in June 2020, aims to further widen the availability of online learning across live online lessons, recorded learning sessions and supported online learning and teaching materials. Further details on the e-learning offer are available at: https://education.gov.scot/improvement/national-e-learning-offer/

E-Sgoil is one aspect of the national offer. The e-Sgoil provision includes study support for learners in the senior phase which takes place after the school day. As at end October 2020, just over 1,635 young people from 233 schools across all local authorities in Scotland had signed up and were taking part in two or more sessions. Feedback from learners has been positive, with 85% wishing to see the e-Sgoil provision continuing beyond November and 80% indicating that they would recommend the sessions to a friend.

To widen access the digital devices, the Scottish Government is investing £25m to tackle digital exclusion amongst children and young people. Funding allocations for devices and connectivity have been made to all 32 local authorities who are now in the process of ordering equipment to address local needs. We expect that around 70,000 devices and 18,000 connectivity solutions will be provided to disadvantaged children and young people.

In order to support teachers' skills in online and remote learning, Education Scotland has delivered a wide range of professional development opportunities including webinars and support sessions for teachers and a community of improvement support via the digilearn.scot website.

Individual schools and local authorities are responsible for arranging learning for children who have to self-isolate or quarantine.

In order to widen the online learning options available to schools, the Scottish Government, Education Scotland and the Association of Directors of Education are delivering the national e-learning offer. Further details on the offer are available at:

https://education.gov.scot/improvement/national-e-learning-offer/

The offer has three component parts: live learning and teaching; recorded learning sessions, and; supported content, where learners use a variety of digital content. The e-Sgoil initiative, one aspect of the partnership, is providing live online study webinars for senior phase pupils as well as a Broad General Education offer to schools. Further work is being undertaken by the West Partnership, who expect to launch their package of recorded lessons during this term. In addition, Education Scotland has expanded the volume of digital learning and teaching resources, and will continue to do so throughout the year.

For wider learning and teaching materials, schools can draw from Education Scotland's National Improvement Hub and Glow website for resources, as well as the new Scotland Learns initiative.