PLANS for parents and the wider community reiterate support for many initiatives in the pipeline or already announced.

These include continued implementation of the discipline task group recommendations, reforming the role of parent teacher associations and school boards, new legislation on special needs, developing the home reading programme for parents and children, cracking down on absenteeism and improving the take-up of school meals.

One unheralded announcement is the development of a strategy for better links between schools and FE, starting next year.

There will be an intranet for all Scottish schools, more say over budgets for headteachers and a review of education legislation to reduce bureaucracy. There is also a plan to provide school managers with business skills and equipment.

One unexpected measure is to explore whether authorities could save money by forming partnerships to buy equipment as well as specialist staff and services.