Pupil Support Staff Working Group minutes: March 2022

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• Fearghal Kelly, Scottish Government (Chair)
• John Urquhart, CoSLA
• Maria Pridden, UNISON
• Frances Foreman, Education Scotland
• Bernadette Casey, AHDS
• Jo Fell, Fife Council
• Chris Ross, Children in Scotland
• Lucinda Fass, Scottish Government
• Keya Rakshith, Scottish Government (Secretariat)

Apologies

• Peter McNaughton, ADES
• Cat Thompson, Children in Scotland 
• Deborah Lynch, Scottish Government
• Janette Kerr, ASLO

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The Chair (FK) welcome members to the meeting. He explained that this was a shorter meeting than usual as the agenda is focused on the proposed engagement.

Minutes of previous meeting - 27 January 2022

The minute of the last meeting was approved and the following updates on action points were provided:

• action 3.1 - Learning Analysis (JD) to circulate slides, make benefits clear and explore timing of survey and bring back to group for consideration - Complete
• action 3.2 - PSSWG members to forward any further comments to JD - Complete
• action 4.1 - sub-group to meet and draft initial proposal in advance of 25 February - Complete
• action 4.2 - JK to seek feedback from Senior Practitioners on 25 February - Complete
• action 5.1 - members to consider remit and membership and group to revisit as agenda item at next meeting– Ongoing – renumber to Action 1.5.
• action 6.1 - FK to inform policy colleagues of current recruitment difficulties in appointing pupil support staff - Complete
• action 7.1 - SG to trawl for meeting date for February meeting date - Complete

Engagement Strategy

FF outlined the proposed engagement strategy as discussed at the previous meeting of the group. The proposal reflects the group’s decision to move towards a more informal and interactive engagement process. FF outlined the purpose of the engagement and the proposed approaches and timeline.

FK shared feedback from Association of Support for Learning Officers (ASLO) on the proposal which had been received via JK. They broadly supported the approach but did ask if some LAs might have already undertaken similar activity.

BC welcomed the proposal and suggested that The Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) could facilitate sessions with school leaders.

It was agreed to move forward with this approach and that there are no major objections.

Points for action/further development:

• action 2.1 – FF to determine the capacity required for the engagement and share with FK
• action 2.2 – FK to take seek approval from ministers for the planned engagement approach

Children and Young People Engagement Proposal

CR provided an overview of Children in Scotland’s proposal to consult with children and young people as part of the pupil support staff engagement. He outlined the aims, methodology and timescales for the consultation and sought members views on the proposal.

Group members agreed with the planned approach. They made some suggested alterations to the text of the proposal and pointed out that the outputs from this work could be used for the second phase of the wider engagement strategy. Group members suggested that it would be helpful to include the P1-3 aspect of the proposal and asked if it would be possible to consider extending this into Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). FK offered to explore this suggestion with ELC policy colleagues.

Points for action/further development:

• action 2.3 - CR to update the proposal based on the feedback received and send to FK
• action 2.4 – FK to seek views of ELC policy colleagues
• action 2.5 – FK to take seek approval from Ministers for the planned children and young people’s consultation

AOB

None

Future meetings

FK suggested putting in a series of meetings for the remainder of 2022 which aligned with the planned engagement strategy. This was agreed.

Points for action/further development:

• action 2.6 – FK to put meetings into diaries which align with the planned engagement proposal

Action log

• action 1.5 - members to consider remit and membership and group to revisit as agenda item at next meeting – Ongoing
• action 2.1 – FF to determine the capacity required for the engagement and share with FK
• action 2.2 – FK to take seek approval from Ministers for the planned engagement approach
• action 2.3 - CR to update the proposal based on the feedback received and send to FK
• action 2.4 – FK to seek views of ELC policy colleagues
• action 2.5 – FK to take seek approval from ministers for the planned children and young people’s consultation
• action 2.6 – FK to put meetings into diaries which align with the planned engagement proposal