Policy

Connect works to make sure parents' views are shared with policy makers in  the Scottish Government,  the Scottish Parliament and  in other parts of the education system.

 Keep track of what's happening in Scottish education: in this section, you can also read the responses that we’ve submitted to inquiries and consultations as well as policy papers we have prepared. 

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Policy

13th May 2026

Connect's Consultation Response: Supporting Children's Learning Code of Practice

Read Connect's response to the consultation on the code of practice providing guidance on supporting children who require additional support for learning

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Policy

1st May 2026

Education Pledges of the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election

Connect summarises parties' education pledges ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

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Policy

22nd Apr 2026

Connect responds to Scottish Government guidance on AI use in schools

New guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in schools is welcome, says Connect, but parents, carers and young people must be consulted and kept informed

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Policy

12th Dec 2025

Scottish Government School Transport Guidance Published

Read the Scottish Government's updated guidance for local authorities on school transport, and Connect's further calls for action

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News, Survey Results, Policy

4th Dec 2025

The Future of School Inspections

Read Connect's latest survey report and response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the future of school inspections

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News, Policy

2nd Oct 2025

Connect responds to call for evidence from the Scottish Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Connect has concerns about the erosion of parents' rights and the possible impact on home-school relationships as a result of some aspects of the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Incompatibility Duty (Scotland) Bill 

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Policy

1st Oct 2025

Connect responds to briefing on Additional Support for Learning

Connect responds to the Public Audit Committee's request for views on Additional Support for Learning

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Policy

13th Aug 2025

Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill: Connect’s Consultation Response

This Private Member's Bill has been re-introduced to the Scottish Parliament and Connect responded again

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Policy

8th May 2025

Scottish Government's Programme for Government 2025-26

Read Connect's summary of the Scottish Government's plans for education set out in its Programme for Government 25/26

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Policy

27th Feb 2025

Disclosure Act: Changes to PVG Coming Soon!

Does your parent group carry out activities and events for children? The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is becoming mandatory. Find out more information here.

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Policy

5th Feb 2025

Summary of the Residential Outdoor Education Bill Stage 1 Report

Read Connect's summary of the Scottish Parliament Education, Children and Young People Committee's Stage 1 report on the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

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Policy

3rd Feb 2025

Connect Consultation Response: Amending Religious Observance Legislation

Read Connect's response to the Scottish Government's consultation on proposals to amend the legislation on religious observance and religious education in schools

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Policy

9th Dec 2024

Summary of the Education Bill Stage 1 Report

Read Connect's summary of the Scottish Parliament Education, Children and Young People Committee's Stage 1 report on the Education (Scotland) Bill, which sets out the replacement of the SQA and establishment of an independent education inspectorate

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Policy

13th Nov 2024

Connect Consultation Response: GTCS Fitness to Teach Rules

Read Connect's response to the General Teaching Council for Scotland's review of its Fitness to Teach Rules

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Policy

1st Oct 2024

Statutory Guidance on the Incorporation of the UNCRC Now Published

The statutory guidance on Parts 2 and 3 of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 is now published, and has included some of Connect's suggestions.

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Policy

23rd Sep 2024

Summary of the Government Response to the Qualifications and Assessment Review

Read Connect’s summary of the Scottish Government’s response to the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment Final Report

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Policy

19th Sep 2024

Connect's Statement on the Publication of the Qualifications and Assessment Review

Read Connect's statement on the publication of 'It's Our Future: Report of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment'

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Policy

5th Sep 2024

Connect Consultation Response: Residential Outdoor Education Bill

Read Connect's response to the Scottish Parliament's Education, Children and Young People Committee's call for views on the the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

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Policy

29th Aug 2024

Connect Consultation Response: Education (Scotland) Bill

Read Connect's response to the Scottish Parliament's Education, Children and Young People Committee's call for views on the Education Bill to create a new qualifications body and an independent education inspectorate.

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Policy

19th Aug 2024

Summary of Mobile Phone Guidance for Schools

Read Connect's summary of the Scottish Government's Mobile Phone Guidance for Scotland's Schools

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Policy

19th Aug 2024

Summary of the Behaviour in Schools Action Plan

Read Connect's summary of the Scottish Government's National Action Plan on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools: 2024 – 2027

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Policy

8th Aug 2024

Connect submits a response to the consultation on the Scottish Government's proposed National Outcomes

National Outcomes are part of the bigger picture, forming objectives and a framework for local authorities and others to work on

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Policy

12th Jun 2024

Summary of the Education (Scotland) Bill

Read Connect's brief summary of the Education (Scotland) Bill which sets up a new qualifications body and a new inspectorate of education

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Policy

10th Jun 2024

Education Bill

The Scottish Government publishes a summary of consultation responses. You can also read Connect's response to the consultation on Education Reform: A Consultation on the Provisions of the Education Bill

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Policy

30th May 2024

Connect Consultation Response: Disclosure Scotland Fees

Connect is against any proposals to move away from fee waivers for PVGs for volunteers of qualifying voluntary organisations

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Policy

15th May 2024

Connect Consultation Response: UNCRC Guidance

Connect calls for parents and carers to be embedded in guidance for the incorporation of UNCRC into Scots law

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Policy

15th Apr 2024

Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill: Connect's Consultation Response

Connect responds to this consultation on the broad ideas for a Bill to support those with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence

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Policy

15th Apr 2024

Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill: consultation summary

Read Connect's summary of the Scottish Government's Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill consultation

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Policy

25th Mar 2024

Disclosure Scotland fees: Consultation on Discounting, Waivers and Accredited Bodies

Read Connect's summary of this Disclosure Scotland and Scottish Government consultation on changing fees for PVGs

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Policy

12th Mar 2024

Connect Consultation Response: Child Friendly Complaints Handling Principles

Read our response to the draft Principles from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

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Policy

22nd Jan 2024

Connect's Summary: Taking a Children's Human Rights Approach Guidance

Read Connect's summary of the Scottish Government's guidance for public authorities to implement a children's human rights approach

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Policy

20th Dec 2023

Connect's Response: Call for Views on Additional Support for Learning

Read Connect's response to the Scottish Parliament's Education, Children, and Young People Committee's Call for Views on Additional Support for Learning in Scotland

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Policy

29th Nov 2023

Education Reform: Consultation on the Provisions of the Education Bill

Read Connect's summary of the Scottish Government's consultation on an Education Bill to replace the SQA with a new qualifications body, and reform the school inspectorate

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Policy

29th Nov 2023

Delivery of RSHP Education in Schools Draft Statutory Guidance

Read Connect's response to the Scottish Government's consultation on Delivery of relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education in Scottish schools - draft statutory guidance

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Connect Policy Responses from August 2017 to October 2023

Read Connect’s policy and consultation responses from the past five years

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Reforming Scottish Qualifications Parent/Carer Survey Launches! Last chance to share your views!

The third and final phase of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment has now been launched! Connect and National Parent Forum Scotland have launched a survey of parents and carers for their views on the proposed Model for Qualifications and Assessment.

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Connect's Response to Call For Views on the Scottish Attainment Challenge

Read Connect's response to the Scottish Parliament's Education, Children, and Young People Committee's call for views on the Scottish Attainment Challenge

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

GIRFEC Refresh and Named Person – Connect’s Response

Connect responds to the refresh of GIRFEC and restates our concerns with named person

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Calling Parent Councils! Please consider gathering parent views on Education Reform!

We’ve provided some conversation-starter questions to help Parent Councils to gather parent views for the Ken Muir Education Reform Consultation

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Education Reform November 2021

Make your voice heard in Connect’s two surveys on education reform and read the background information

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Scottish Government's Programme for Government 2021-22

Read Connect’s Summary of the Scottish Government’s 2021-22 Programme for Government

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Connect Responds To Cancellation of Nat 5 Exams

Connect responds to John Swinney's announcement that Nat 5 exams are to be cancelled for 2021, with qualifications to be awarded through school-based assessment instead

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Connect Campaigns: Supporting Children and Young People's Mental Health

As a result of our Parents' Voice survey on mental health, we're calling for schools to remember parental engagement

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Scottish Government Consultation on Guidance to the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act

The Scottish Government is modernising and updating the guidance whilst preserving the Act as it is

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Survey Results, Policy

18th Oct 2023

Connect's Report on Support for Children and Young People's Mental Health

Our Parents' Voice survey on support for children and young people's mental health has led to a powerful and compelling report

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Connect's Submission to the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Inquiry on Young People's Mental Health Services

Connect calls for improvements to provision as services are patchy, inadequately-funded and only available in some areas when young people are suicidal

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Programme for Government 2019-20

Connect is pleased to see the Scottish Government recognises the importance of family engagement and involvement in their programme for government for the upcoming year

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Musical Instrument Tuition Inquiry: COSLA and John Swinney's responses are published

Responses from COSLA and John Swinney about funding to support musical instrument tuition in schools are very disappointing

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Developing the Young Workforce report finds progress is not fast enough

The Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee has commissioned a report on the Developing the Young Workforce programme

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Connect's response to the Scottish Government's Scottish National Standardised Assessments User Review: Stop the P1 tests! 

The Scottish Government's Review of the Scottish National Standardised Assessments sets up the problems with the SNSAs this year

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Comment on the Education and Skills Committee's Inquiry into Attainment and Achievement of School Children Experiencing Poverty Report

Connect comments on the Inquiry into Attainment and Achievement of School Children Experiencing Poverty Report by the Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee

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Policy

18th Oct 2023

Education Bill is published but is postponed in favour of collaborative working

The Scottish Government is to focus on improvement, not reform and collaboration, not legislation

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Survey Results, Policy

11th Oct 2023

Connect Report: Parents' Voice Anti-Bullying Survey with Respectme

Our report on what parents told us about bullying in their children's schools and their understanding of it

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