Parents are being marginalised by Scottish sex education guidance that encourages teachers to speak to a child’s named person about any wellbeing concerns, with no mention of the role of parents in the section on confidential-ity, it was reported in December.
Under the Named Person scheme – which is currently being legally challenged by The Christian Institute, by other organisations and by concerned parents – all children in Scotland will be given a state guardian to monitor their wellbeing.
Unjustified interference
In the section on confidentiality the guidance says: ‘Staff should discuss any concerns they have with the young person and ensure they have access to confidential, young people friendly services, where appropriate. If there is judged to be a risk to the child’s wellbeing, staff should inform the child’s Named Person.’
A spokesperson from the No To Named Person (NO2NP) campaign group said: ‘How can a professional with potentially hundreds of kids to keep an eye on be given priority over the people that care about children the most – their own parents? Parents are being marginalised and sidestepped, their roles and responsibilities diminished and their authority undermined’.
Leading human rights QC Aidan O’Neill has previously said that the Named Person plans amount to an ‘unjustified interference’ with family and private life.
The Christian Institute is taking legal advice on the new sex education guidance.
