Nursery
Nursery

 

Scottish Labour have today demanded Nicola Sturgeon intervene personally to let parents attend nursery graduations. 

 

The ceremonies, which begin to take place this week, are going ahead but parents are being told they cannot attend even when they are socially distanced and outside. 

 

Ms Baillie also raised the case of her constituent Emma Gildea, 32, who has been barred from attending her 4-year-old daughter Remy’s graduation ceremony this Friday because of the rules.  

 

It comes as the UEFA Fan Zone in Glasgow welcomed 6,000 fans a day over the weekend.

 

Scottish Labour’s Health and Covid Recovery spokesperson Jackie Baillie is now demanding that the First Minister change the rules in Parliament on Tuesday. 

 

Last week, Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson joined The National Day Nurseries Association and others in calling for the guidance to be reviewed. 

 

Emma shared her frustration at being unable to attend the ceremony. 

 

She said: “I feel like the Scottish Government has completely failed my family – this was the one chance that both my husband and I would have had to see her together at nursery. 

 

“We have worked so hard through the pandemic to keep our family safe and follow all the guidelines, just one of us dropping Remy off on her first day was heartbreaking.  

 

“As a parent I have missed sports days and nativity plays and we accepted that. 

 

“So when we were invited to this graduation it was going to mean so much to Remy – it was a little bit of hope for us all. 

 

“Her nursery worked so hard to arrange a Covid secure ceremony, with just 12 parents in a garden at a time. 

 

“But that hope was completely shattered with the announcement that it would not be allowed to go ahead. 

 

“How can we possibly tell our children we are now not allowed to attend to watch their graduation which they have been practicing so hard for but meanwhile there are 6000 fans in the UEFA fanzone?

 

“It’s absolutely unacceptable and there is no logic to it. 

 

“Please Nicola let parents and children have this moment after a difficult year.”

 

Scottish Labour’s Health and Covid Recovery spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “People really don’t understand the lack of consistency from the Scottish government.

 

“How is it safe to permit 6000 fans coming together in Glasgow, but not socially distanced graduations for parents and children? 

 

“These rules rely on public confidence to work but these apparent inconsistencies make it more difficult for people to understand why they are being asked not to do certain things. 

 

“That is why Scottish Labour is asking Nicola Sturgeon to change these rules immediately and give parents back this little moment of hope after a very difficult 18 months. 

 

“If she refuses then the least the public deserve is the detailed scientific rationale that explains why socially distanced drinking is safe but socially distanced clapping is unacceptable.” 

 

Link to Instagram Link to Twitter Link to YouTube Link to Facebook Link to LinkedIn Link to Snapchat Close Fax Website Location Phone Email Calendar Building Search