West Lothian parents reassured about primary school gender questions

West Lothian council has moved to reassure parents that primary school children will not be questioned about their gender.

The move followed a question raised at full council by Conservative group leader Councillor Damian Doran-Timson.

He told the council that the SNP government was pushing for “primary children to have LGBT champions”.

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But Executive councillor for education Andrew McGuire said: “children and young people are not expected to answer questions about their sexuality or gender.”

In his formal question, Councillor Doran Timson said: “Across Scotland, the SNP Government have introduced completely inappropriate questions to children as young as four and are pushing for primary school children to have LGBT champions.

“Are children in West Lothian Primary schools being asked what gender they are and what their sexuality is?”

Councillor McGuire told the meeting that West Lothian schools “foster an inclusive and supportive ethos for children and young people to support their individual circumstances”

He added: “We ensure equality and celebrate diversity for all and do not ask any child or young person to identify their gender or sexuality.”

In a written answer Councillor McGuire added: “All schools have a Positive Relationships Policy which includes an Equality and Diversity statement providing guidance for all school staff. This includes guidance on the nine protected characteristics as well as universal support for all children and young people.

“This guidance is informed by Respect Me, the UN Convention on Rights for the Child and the GTC professional code of conduct. To further support school staff, Scottish Government Guidance can be used to provide a flexible framework for schools to make effective decisions about individual circumstances. This guidance is used in line with local authority procedures to support children and young people.

“Our Health and Well-being Curriculum signposts schools to LGBT Inclusive Education developed by the Scottish Government and the Relationships and Sexual Health Programme developed by NHS Scotland.

“This approach ensures that all schools have the guidance they need to provide an inclusive ethos where children and young people are not expected to answer questions about their sexuality or gender."

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