ANGRY parents are hitting out at the Scottish Government over a ban on parents attending outdoor nursery and school events such as graduations and sports days.

Current guidelines set state that mums and dads are not allowed to attend the end of the year celebrations even if they're held outside, reports The Scottish Sun.

This rule is in force despite level two allowing a maximum of 250 people to attend outdoor grouped standing events.

Glasgow Times:

On Friday, the city will also welcome up to 6,000 footie fans to the Euro fanzone in the Glasgow Green. 

Now Scotland's children's commissioner Bruce Adamson has urged ministers to review the guidance. 

He said: "Transitions are an important part of children’s right to development.

“In a year of disruption and uncertainty, we need to do more to uphold children’s rights to education, socialisation and play while balancing rights to public health and (the Scottish Government) should review the guidance.”

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser added: "Parents across Scotland are being told this week that they cannot attend their children’s sports days, even when they are taking place in the open air.

“If you can have up to 6,000 fans in an open-air location in Glasgow, that is a clear inconsistency.

“I think it’s absolute nonsense to allow up to 6,000 football fans to gather in open air in Glasgow for one event, and not allow parents to attend school sports days in the open air, provided they’re doing so in a socially distanced manner.”

And Jo Bisset, organiser for parents’ group Us For Them Scotland, told the Scottish Sun: “The level of decision-making in relation to kids’ activities in Scotland has reached new lows.

“Children have been treated abysmally over the last year – barely anyone in a position of power seems interested in standing up for them.

“This latest snub is just another example of the sheer hypocrisy at the heart of government on this.

“Parents are banned from safe, important outdoor events, but can happily turn up to a mobbed fanzone to drink and watch the football all day.”

Meanwhile, on Twitter parents hit out.

One user said: "Can’t go to my wee girl's nursery graduation with a handful of parents but there’s a fan zone going ahead in Glasgow, ridiculous!"

Another tweeted Nicola Sturgeon saying: "Can you please explain to me why parents can’t go and stand outside social distance from other parents to see their child graduation for nursery, P7 or high school? but I can go to Glasgow Green and watch a football match outside with totally strangers?"

 

Scottish Government guidance says that whole-school sports days cannot be held this year - but activities and events can be held for class groups.

It said: “As it should not be necessary for any parental supervision, parents as spectators are not allowed.”

Glasgow Times:

This week the Scottish Government also notified parents that they were not able to attend events marking the end of their time at nursery, before they start primary school after the summer holidays.

In an update on Twitter, the government said: “We know moving from nursery to school is a big step and it’s important that these transitions are acknowledged and celebrated with our children.

“This year, we’ll need to do that while remembering the Covid guidance that’s in place to keep staff and children safe at nursery.

“This means that settings aren’t able to invite groups of parents to celebration events, even if outdoors.

“This may feel different from other areas where restrictions are being eased but we must remember how important it is to keep our children in nursery and our staff safe.”