What discussions it has held with Education Scotland regarding providing additional training, development and support for (a) teachers and …

The Scottish Government has regular discussions with Education Scotland as well as other stakeholders part of the Covid-19 Education Recover Group regarding support required for teachers and classroom assistants to support blended learning when schooling resumes. This includes a Workforce Support workstream which has been looking at professional learning and wellbeing support for the education profession.
In May, Education Scotland launched Scotland Learns ; a resource bank of straightforward, open-ended learning activities which are challenging, and that develop children’s and young people’s independence in learning. These learning activities are designed to support learning that takes place outwith the classroom.
To support schools to deliver new models of blended learning Education Scotland has temporarily suspended all early learning and school inspections from August 2020. HM Inspectors of Education will provide bespoke support to schools and contribute, with others, to the overall recovery of the education system. The programme of support will be targeted at helping schools as they implement their plans for recovery and continuity of educational provision. Inspections will resume during school year 2020/21 when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Education Scotland has published Learning and Teaching online: Advice for practitioners. A series of webinars have been delivered to support practitioners, including topics such as digital literacy skills, evidencing learning using i-pads, and getting the most out of GLOW. Over the month of June the scheduled webinars cover a range of curricular areas, all of which will consider the approach to blended learning to support practitioners.
In addition, Education Scotland has facilitated a series of ‘Blethers’ which have taken place during May and June with over 600 staff registered to attend. These ‘Blethers’ provide an opportunity for practitioners across Scotland to engage virtually in themed discussions. Three of these ‘Blethers’ had a specific focus on blended learning, and they were designed to bring practitioners together to share their ideas and current practice and to learn from each other.
Current Professional Learning and Leadership programmes have highlighted aspects of blended learning within current programme delivery. For example, the 200 practitioners who have engaged in the 2019/20 Teacher Leadership programme have gained experience from the blended learning model of delivery throughout the programme and the 2020/21 programme resources are being updated to include an exploration of blended learning in the classroom.
The Excellence in Headship programme, an established professional learning programme available to all headteachers in Scotland, has launched a series of ‘Headspace’ sessions where school leaders are given time and space to meet and discuss key areas.
Education Scotland has published Professional Learning Activities (PLAs) on the Education Scotland Professional Learning Resource which support the delivery of online learning, including Effective Online Learning. Further PLAs including: Using Glow to Support Learning and Teaching, Delivering Learning and Teaching Online and Family Learning – Learning at Home, will shortly be published.
Education Scotland will continue to respond proactively to professional learning requests from practitioners across the country. As part of the Scottish Government Education Recovery Group, Education Scotland has worked with all partners represented on Workstream 6: Workforce Support to publish a joint communication outlining learning opportunities:
https://education.gov.scot/education-scotland/news-and-events/survey-on-additional-support/ . This joint communication includes a survey link for Scotland’s education workforce to find out what additional training and wellbeing support is needed.