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The importance of play, learning, active time and socialising in outdoor environments has been reflected in the Learning Estate Strategy which was co-produced by the Scottish Government and COSLA. For example, it includes a guiding principle which makes clear that outdoor learning and the use of outdoor learning environments should be maximised.

To encourage and embed this approach, the latest phase of the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme has a requirement for enhanced outdoor environments, including sheltered spaces.

Furthermore, the consultation on the updating of the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967, which is scheduled to begin by the end of this year, will include outdoor environments as part of its scope.

I most recently met with the Scottish Trades Union Congress, and relevant member trade union representatives, to discuss a range of matters relating to the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill and skills reform programme on 24 July 2025.

The Education, Children and Young People Committee took evidence from trade union representatives on the Bill on 21 May 2025. The Scottish Government will carefully consider the Stage 1 report from the Committee and points made in the Stage 1 debate, as well as the views of unions and other stakeholders, before considering what, if any, amendments to lodge for consideration by the Committee or the Parliament.

The Minister, alongside the public bodies impacted by the changes set out in the Bill, remain committed to continued and meaningful engagement with trade unions as the Bill progresses.

The data for reporting period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 was published on 26 August and can be accessed here https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-annual-health-checks-for-people-16-with-learning-disabilities-2024-25/

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde deliver annual health checks via a nurse led team and in the most recent reporting period offered 1,468 annual health checks and completed 743. The full publication for the most recent reporting period can be accessed here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-annual-health-checks-for-people-16-with-learning-disabilities-2024-25/

The Scottish Government has committed to refresh the Additional Support for Learning Statutory Code of Practice Guidance as part of the delivery of the Additional Support for Learning Action Plan. We have been working collaboratively with a range of education partners and policy areas, including those with a focus on transitions, to ensure it continues to fully support schools and local authorities to fulfil their duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004.

A public consultation will be undertaken in the Autumn of 2025, providing an opportunity for wider stakeholders with an interest in the Code of Practice to share their views.

The Scottish Government has outlined a number of actions that will be undertaken to improve data collection – both qualitative and quantitative - in the recently published National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy. The intention is to utilise this data to:

• build a more accurate picture across Scotland of the number of young disabled people;
• have a better understanding of the experiences and outcomes of young disabled people who are making the transition to adulthood;
• focus on making the right improvements at a national and local level; and
• report and monitor progress.

The Scottish Government is already providing funding to Association for Real Change (ARC) Scotland who have developed Compass in response to the identified need to improve how we collect and use information from people with lived experience to better inform decisions about practice, commissioning and policy.

The development of a Children’s Services Plan requires planning partnerships to use available data and intelligence to undertake a multi-agency joint strategic needs assessment to identify the needs of children, young people and families living in that area, and inform service planning. This joint strategic needs assessment should be used to inform service planning and local strategic commissioning processes for the Children’s Services Plan, with specific consideration of the needs of young people as they move between receipt of children’s and adult services.

As set out in the strategy, there is also an action to deliver an enhanced offer of practical support to Children’s Services Planning Partnership Strategic Leads as they begin to develop their 2026-2029 Strategic Plans. This will include a joint workshop with Children’s Service Planning Partnership Strategic Leads and the Integration Joint Board Strategic Planning and Performance Officers Group focused on best practice for transitions between children’s and adult services as well as the role of planning and commissioning in transitions.

The Scottish Government is also progressing work to improve the equality evidence base more broadly which will support these intentions. This includes:

• developing the Equality Evidence Finder data platform, which will present available intersectional data on young disabled people;
• continuing to improve the availability of disability data through specific actions outlined in the Equality Evidence Strategy 2023-2025; and
• undertaking a Disability Evidence Review to support the delivery of the Disability Equality Plan. This Evidence Review will be finalised in partnership with Disabled People’s Organisations and will include intersectional evidence on disabled young people where possible.

Scotland’s Census also enables intersectional analysis of data on disabled young people, supporting a deeper understanding of experiences and outcomes across a range of policy areas at national and local levels.

The Scottish Government plan to publish the first progress report on the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy by the end of 2026.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39323 on 5 August 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Actions outlined in the recently published The National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy that the Scottish Government will take forward to help young people to access networks of peer support include:

• exploring models of peer support which can help young disabled people who are making the transition to adulthood to build confidence and knowledge; and
• sharing aspirational success stories, where permission is granted, of young disabled people with lived and living experience of the transition to adulthood to inspire other young disabled people to achieve their fullest potential.

There are a number of existing frameworks and legislative measures that already facilitate better joining up of activities across sectors, including:

• the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 and associated Regulations
• the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
• the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014
• the Getting it Right for Every Child and the Getting It Right for Everyone approaches

There are also a number of specific actions within the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy to improve communication and collaboration across sectors which include:

• Updating the Additional Support for Learning statutory guidance by the end of this parliamentary term (May 2026), including the section on co-ordinated support plans to provide clarity on the relationship between co-ordinated support plans and other types of child plans.
• Delivering an enhanced offer of practical support to Children’s Services Planning Partnership Strategic Leads as they begin to develop their 2026-2029 Strategic Plans. This will include a joint workshop with Children’s Service Planning Partnership Strategic Leads and the Integration Joint Board Strategic Planning and Performance Officers Group focused on best practice for transitions between children’s and adult services as well as the role of planning and commissioning in transitions.
• Working with participating areas and the Association for Real Change (ARC) Scotland to gather a full picture of what local agencies are already doing to collectively improve transitions in their area in order to share effective and innovative practice. This will build on the examples collated within the Principles into Practice Impact Report published in May 2023 and the Spotlight Examples hosted on the Principles into Practice website.

The Scottish Government and its partners already collect and publish evidence on the outcomes of disabled people. However, we recognise that there are some areas where additional data publication would be valuable. The Data Collection and Measurement section of the recently published National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy outlines the Scottish Government’s actions to address these gaps.

As part of this commitment, we will conduct an audit of existing data collected and published on disabled children and young people. This audit will identify gaps in the data currently published on disabled young people, including instances where data is collected but not published. The findings will inform discussions on priorities for future evidence gathering to support better planning for transitions.

Officials will also engage with UK-wide developments on guidance on disability data collection and harmonisation. This will include considering where and how Scottish Government may adopt revised approaches, where appropriate.

In addition, the Scottish Government is continuing to provide funding to Association for Real Change (ARC) Scotland through financial year 2025-26. Part of this funding will support ARC Scotland to maintain and continually improve the Compass tools; to promote the wider implementation of Compass and to publish anonymised evaluation reports with the data generated.