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| Funding secured for outdoor learning law for all Scottish children | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The bill would guarantee every school pupil five days and four nights of residential outdoor learning | The bill would guarantee every school pupil five days and four nights of residential outdoor learning |
| A proposed new law to give every school pupil in Scotland a week of outdoor learning has taken a step forward after securing more funding. | |
| The plans, which could cost up to £40m a year, would entitle every pupil to four nights and five days of residential outdoor education. | |
| The Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) bill was at risk of falling unless the government tabled a financial resolution by the end of this week. | The Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) bill was at risk of falling unless the government tabled a financial resolution by the end of this week. |
| Children's minister Natalie Don-Innes originally said the proposals were unaffordable, however ministers are now expected to announce more funding which would allow the legislation to proceed to stage two. | |
| The bill won majority support when it was first put forward by Conservative MSP Liz Smith. | |
| But there had been concerns that the government was going to thwart the will of parliament. | |
| Opposition politicians had warned that would be a democratic outrage. | Opposition politicians had warned that would be a democratic outrage. |
| Don-Innes will make a statement to parliament on Wednesday afternoon where she is expected to confirm her willingness to allow the bill to progress to stage two. | Don-Innes will make a statement to parliament on Wednesday afternoon where she is expected to confirm her willingness to allow the bill to progress to stage two. |
| At stage two, any MSP can propose changes to a bill. These amendments are debated and later decided on by a committee. | At stage two, any MSP can propose changes to a bill. These amendments are debated and later decided on by a committee. |
| Liz Smith tabled the bill which could cost between £25m and £40m a year | Liz Smith tabled the bill which could cost between £25m and £40m a year |
| Liz Smith previously told BBC Scotland how she believed the experience of outdoor education could be transformative for children. | Liz Smith previously told BBC Scotland how she believed the experience of outdoor education could be transformative for children. |
| At the time, she said: "I think we should be trying to level up, to ensure that young people, whoever they are, whatever their background, whatever their family circumstances, they should have that opportunity. | At the time, she said: "I think we should be trying to level up, to ensure that young people, whoever they are, whatever their background, whatever their family circumstances, they should have that opportunity. |
| "The statistics we have show that if they have participated in residential outdoor education, their attendance is better, their behaviour is better, their self-discipline is better." | "The statistics we have show that if they have participated in residential outdoor education, their attendance is better, their behaviour is better, their self-discipline is better." |
| But there is a postcode lottery in provision of residential outdoor education, with research for the University of Edinburgh stating that just a third of secondary schools and only a quarter of primary schools offer this type of experience. | But there is a postcode lottery in provision of residential outdoor education, with research for the University of Edinburgh stating that just a third of secondary schools and only a quarter of primary schools offer this type of experience. |
| Cuts in other school activities | Cuts in other school activities |
| One of the biggest problems facing the bill is that the experience does not come cheap. | One of the biggest problems facing the bill is that the experience does not come cheap. |
| Smith estimates the policy would cost between £25m and £40m a year. | Smith estimates the policy would cost between £25m and £40m a year. |
| The minister for children previously told MSPs that ringfencing cash for outdoor education could be to the detriment of other activities. | The minister for children previously told MSPs that ringfencing cash for outdoor education could be to the detriment of other activities. |
| Don-Innes added: "Where would you seek to cut funding from in education? Would it be our teachers, our schools, would it be nurseries or our colleges?" | Don-Innes added: "Where would you seek to cut funding from in education? Would it be our teachers, our schools, would it be nurseries or our colleges?" |
| The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) also raised concerns over the practicalities of the policy. | The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) also raised concerns over the practicalities of the policy. |
| It questioned the impact on staffing, the costs of transport and what it would mean for schools' ability to take part in other trips relating to geography, history or the arts. | It questioned the impact on staffing, the costs of transport and what it would mean for schools' ability to take part in other trips relating to geography, history or the arts. |
| It is expected that compromises will need to be made to the scope of the bill for it to become law. | It is expected that compromises will need to be made to the scope of the bill for it to become law. |