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Respite and day care encompasses a wide variety of types of support. Some day care and respite support for people with learning disabilities has remained in place with appropriate physical distancing and hygiene measures, whilst other services have re-opened, or started to provide support in a different way.

For those services which had had to adapt during or after lockdown, design and development of support should be co-produced with people who use social care.

We recognise that communication will be an important factor in helping people understand why support may look different from before; and to be confident that it is safe.

One of our key priorities is to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs who may be finding this difficult time particularly challenging, continue to be supported with their learning, whether at home or at a local hub.

We have worked closely with local authorities, Education Scotland and other partners to develop and publish a range of guidance to support schools, local authorities and families during this time. This includes guidance for term 4 that gives an overview of the measures in place and steps being taken, at a national and local level, to support all children and young people’s learning, including those with additional support needs; and guidance to help local authorities, early learning centres and schools continue to support children and young people's learning during the coronavirus outbreak, including advice on the provision of blended learning for children and young people who need support.

Children and young people with additional support needs have been, and will continue to be, provided with bespoke learning activities from their schools and local authorities. Support and advice is also available for their parents and carers though our Parent Club website and from a range of partner organisations including CALL Scotland, Dyslexia Scotland, Reach and Enquire.

We will continue to work closely with local authorities, Education Scotland and other partners to ensure all children and young people continue to be supported with their learning and that their needs are fully considered as we look, and plan, ahead.

We have remained in regular contact with education authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic about how support is provided for children and young people, including those with additional support needs.

Local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the needs of the children and young people in their local area during these challenging times.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

On 31 March, we published guidance about the continued provision of care and support for the children of key workers and vulnerable children and young people, including those with complex additional support needs. On 21 May, I issued a joint letter with COSLA to all directors of education confirming that critical childcare will continue throughout June and the summer break to ensure ongoing provision for key workers and vulnerable children.

Local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the needs of the children and young people in their local area during these challenging times. In doing so, it is vital that all decisions taken at a local level align with the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 framework for decision making, be fully risk assessed and based on the individual needs of the child or young person.

We continue to engage with local authorities and third sector partners to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs get the support they need during this challenging time.

In addition, children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs who have not attended local hubs will continue to be provided with bespoke learning activities which can be adapted to meet their individual learning needs. In some cases, this is supported by home visits, and helpline support from local educational psychologists and education managers.

To ensure digital equity for all children and young people, we are investing an initial £9m which will provide devices and connectivity for 25,000 learners across Scotland to help ensure as many children and young people as possible are able to connect with their schools, continue their learning, access support and engage with their peers.

Support and advice is available children and young people and their families though the Scottish Government's Parent Club website and a range of partner organisations including CALL Scotland, Dyslexia Scotland, Reach and Enquire.

We recognise that children and young people with additional support needs may be finding this difficult time particularly challenging.

On 5 June, continuity in learning guidance was published, which includes advice on the provision of blended learning for children and young people who need support, including those with additional support needs, and support for families and carers.

To further support local authorities and schools, Education Scotland has developed bespoke resources to assist in planning the individual support that children and young people with additional support needs may require in their transition back to school or in their progression to another learning setting.

We are working closely with local authorities and other partners to ensure all children and young people continue to be supported with their learning and that their needs are fully considered as we look, and plan, ahead.

Local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the needs of the children and young people in their local area during these challenging times.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs who have not attended provision have been, and will continue to be, provided with bespoke learning activities. In some cases, these are supported by home visits and helplines have also been set up to access support from local educational psychologists and education managers.

Some third sector organisations have been able to sustain their local and national services, while changing their model of delivery, in order to maintain support to children and young people as part of multi-agency plans. Specific advice is also available for parents and carers of children with additional support needs though the Scottish Government's Parent Club website and a range of partner organisations.

We continue to engage with local authorities and third sector partners to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs, including those with complex needs, get the support they need during this challenging time.

Under the current educational continuity direction, issued on 10 June 2020, schools remain closed except for the specific purposes of planning and preparing for the provision of learning and teaching of children and young people on the premises or remotely from August 2020.

We continue to engage with local authorities and third sector partners to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs get the support they need during this challenging time.

In addition, children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support.

Mobile ice-cream vans are licensed as street traders under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The legislative framework devolves most aspects of the creation and management of the licensing regime to local licensing authorities.

The Scottish Government considers that the 1982 Act works well in allowing licensing authorities sufficient flexibility to adapt their licensing regimes to their local circumstances. The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to make changes to the street traders licensing regime.

Such traders are permitted to operate under COVID-19 restrictions provided that they can do so safely in line with Scottish Government guidance.