Phones out, pupil support assistants in: The Scot Lib Dem plan for schools

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton today said in Inverness that his party is on track to make gains in key seats and on the peach regional ballot as he set out how his party will get Scottish education back to its best – expanding pupil support in every school and giving every child the best start in life.

The party’s election manifesto commits to:

• hiring 2,000 more pupil support assistants and specialist support such as 370 new speech and language therapists
• legislate to make classrooms mobile phone-free
• fix the mess the SNP have made of teacher recruitment and retention, ending the excessive use of teachers on zero hours and temporary contracts
• help children get off to a good start by using play-based learning until the age of 7
• help neurodivergent children and their families receive the right help at the right time
• inspire people to launch their careers through apprenticeships
• restore colleges to a powerful role in local economic development.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that education is the best investment we can make in our children’s potential and our country’s future but too many pupils, teachers and parents feel let down.

“The results of almost two decades of nationalist rule are now in and they are not pretty. We used to have one of the best education systems in the world, but under the SNP it is now just average.

“Pupils with additional support needs aren’t having their needs met, too many pupils are frequently absent, and schools are more violent than ever before.

“Our children deserve better. That’s why we have a realistic plan to get things done and get Scottish education back to its best. It means hiring 2,000 more pupil support assistants and legislating to make every school a smartphone free environment.

“At this election, you have two votes. In many constituencies like Inverness & Nairn, Argyll & Bute and Strathkelvin & Bearsden, we are on the verge of winning against the SNP. But wherever you are, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart.

“This is your chance to get Scottish education back to its best.”