Recording and Monitoring in Schools minutes: February 2026

Attendees and apologies

• ASPEP

• Connect

• EIS

• Falkirk Council (Education Scotland SEBN)

• Inverclyde Council (ADES)

• NASUWT

• SG Early Learning and Childcare

• SG Health and Wellbeing in Schools team (Chair)

• South Ayrshire Council (Education Scotland SEBN)

• SSTA

• West Lothian Council (ADES)

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

The Chair welcomed members to the meeting and noted apologies from COSLA.

Note of previous meeting

The chair brought members’ attention to the note of the previous meeting. The group confirmed they were content for this to be published.

Action:

Secretariat to publish note of previous meeting on the SG website.

Update on local authority survey

The Chair confirmed that with thanks to ADES, the survey on approaches to recording and monitoring has now been shared with all other local authorities. Responses have been requested by the 20th March. It was noted that it was a busy time for local authorities so response times may be affected by this.

A further update will be given to the group once responses are received. The next meeting of the group will be planned to allow time to review the survey responses.

Draft terms of reference

The Chair noted that the Secretariat had an action to review the Timescales section of the Terms of Reference (ToR). This has been done, with additions showing alignment with the National Action Plan. It was noted that the lines leave room for the group to reconsider timescales should they wish and that the ToR should be revisited routinely to check it is still suitable.

The Chair asked for comments from the group, who confirmed they were content to agree the ToR, with a view to reviewing it in a few months.

Action:

SG to publish the Terms of Reference on the SG website and schedule review in June.

Draft recording violent incidents guidance and draft principles

The Chair introduced this item and noted that following discussions at the last meeting, a longer version of the recording violent incidents guidance has been pulled out of the Principles and further developed. There remains a shorter section on recording violent incidents in the Principles which includes signposting to specific guidance. References to ELC were also removed.

Overall, group members were content with the changes. The following points were raised:

• the ELC policy team is engaging with national partners, including Education Scotland and Care Inspectorate, on the proposed inclusion of ELC within the scope of the broader Principles
• an extra sentence is needed to state that a response may include the school completing a risk assessment in line with the Risk Assessment guidance
• it should be made clear that records should be created for every individual involved in an incident
• suggestions were given for rewording and additions to bullet points in this section
• communication with parents is key. There needs to be an accurate record to ensure better discussions with parents and early intervention
• access to guidance should be considered for supply staff as they may not have the same access to systems and IT

The Chair summarised progress to date and noted that the group were generally content with the guidance. SG will incorporate the comments received at this meeting and will come back to the group with a revised draft, which will reflect any further survey responses received, and outcomes of ELC consideration.

Action:

SG to make amendments to the guidance based on feedback from group members.

Any other business

SG noted that the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR) fieldwork was currently being carried out and asked group members to promote this within their networks.  

No other business was raised. The Chair thanked the group members for their comments and closed the meeting.