Routine protective measures in schools, early learning and childcare (ELC) settings and daycare of children's services: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

5. How will the policy/measure give better or further effect to the implementation of the UNCRC in Scotland?

In these very difficult and unprecedented decisions, there has been consistent consideration of children and young people's wellbeing and rights, and a particular focus on the reduction of negative impact through mitigating actions, recognising that in some circumstances it is not possible to wholly mitigate the impact to children and young people's rights.

Aligning protective measures in schools and ELC settings with wider societal and workplace routine protective measures is in line with advice from Public Health Scotland on the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people. These adjustments will have a positive impact on children's rights in relation to easing self-isolation, physical distancing, face coverings, contact tracing and asymptomatic testing.

The decision to ease protective measures was taken with consideration to the rights, health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people with the focus on mitigating impacts to children and young people's wellbeing and education remaining a central concern.