Improving relationships and behaviour in schools: ensuring safe and consistent environments for all. Joint action plan 2024 - 2027: 2nd Annual Progress Report

Theme 8: Policy cohesion

Action 20: Ensure alignment with existing cross-government policy commitments that seek to support children and young people to reach their full potential.

As has been highlighted across this report, there are various other government policies and strategies that are contributing to the outcomes of the action plan, and activity taken forward under these other strategies have been cited in this report.

To ensure the work of SAGRABIS in implementing the action plan is sufficiently aligned with the broader policy landscape, during phase 2, views were sought from the Gender Equality Taskforce on Education and Learning during the development of Fostering a positive, inclusive and safe schools environment guidance, to consider these publications through a gendered lens.

There also continue to be connections made with policy work to address violence against women and girls, including the Equally Safe Strategy. The Equally Safe Delivery Plan 2024 – 2026 contains a range of actions to build a robust and joined up approach to the prevention of violence against women and girls including in education settings in Scotland.

All new policies on relationships and behaviour provided consistent messaging on matters such as recording and monitoring. For example, outputs from the Racism and Racist Incidents Workstream of the Anti-Racism in Education Programme were developed in line with Respect for All.

The review of Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2 on preventing and managing exclusions, which was started during phase 2 and will publish in phase 3, involves membership from CELCIS and the Scottish Government’s The Promise team, to ensure considerations include the perspectives of care experienced young people.

As set out in action 17 above, school engagement and education programmes are key approaches to tackling youth violence. Action 8 of the Violence Prevention Framework is a commitment to consider the findings from BISSR 2023, and to work with partners to develop a response to any emerging issues relating to violence. The Actions of the Violence Prevention Framework therefore support responses to relationships and behaviour in schools.

During phase 2, a cross-portfolio summit was held, involving the First Minister, Ministers from the Education and Justice portfolios, and cross-Party MSPs, to hear directly from violence reduction and youth work organisations about what more needs to be done to ensure the right support is in place to help guide young people away from violence and anti-social behaviour.

The ASL Action Plan reinforces that positive relationships and behaviour is a foundation for inclusion. The ASL Action Plan contains a theme of actions around Relationships and Behaviour. New guidance documents published during phase 2, including Fostering a positive, inclusive and safe schools environment, and Risk assessments for violent, aggressive and dangerous behaviour, give particular consideration to the needs of children and young people with additional support needs.

The Programme for Government 2025-26 committed to taking forward a Ministerial Online Safety Taskforce to strengthen the approach to keeping children safe online, providing oversight and direction across Scottish Government and identifying what more can be done to protect children and young people. Senior officials within the Learning and Education Reform Directorates of Scottish Government, as well as the Chief Executive of Education Scotland are members of the Taskforce, which enables the Taskforce to be appropriately linked with areas such as relationships and behaviour, including mental health and bullying, curriculum, and support for the education workforce.

The Mental Health in Schools Working Group supports delivery of the Scottish Government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy by focusing on prevention, early intervention and whole school approaches to mental health in education settings. The Group’s work to review and refresh professional learning resources, and to consider support around self-harm and suicide prevention in schools, contributes to the Strategy’s commitments to improving mental health support for children and young people and ensuring that education settings are equipped to respond effectively.