A 'major' summit on educational reforms will be held in Scotland, the First Minister has announced.

The meeting will help to form part the Scottish Government's ambition to close the attainment gap in schools between the richest and poorest students. Party leaders and those who work in the industry will have a seat at the table.

The First Minister said: "I can confirm today that over the next few months, we will convene a major summit on school reform and raising attainment - it will bring together all the key stakeholders in education to look at what each of us can do to help raise attainment and how collectively we drive this work forward. We will invite party leaders and education spokespeople to attend.

"We will work hard to build consensus and partnership."

The announcement came in the First Minister's speech to the Scottish Parliament where she set out her government's provisional programme for the next five years.

The SNP leader committed her government to ensuring that by 2030, 20% of university students in Scotland will come from Scotland's 20% most deprived areas.

To achieve this aim the Scottish Government will seek to appoint a commissioner for fair access who will recommend how access to university and colleges can be extended to those from deprived backgrounds.

Sturgeon said: "We must also break down the other barriers - the financial, cultural and institutional barriers - that mean young people from poorer backgrounds are less likely to go to university than their more affluent peers.

"So over the summer, we will appoint a commissioner for fair access to drive the change that will be needed in our universities and colleges and ensure that the recommendations of the Widening Access Commission are implemented in full.

"The target we are setting is clear - a child born today in one of our most deprived communities must, by the time they leave school, have the same chance of getting to university as a child of the same ability from one of the most well off parts of our country."

The Scottish Government also promised to deliver a 'baby box' to all new mothers within the next year. Government baby boxes will provide around £100 of essential items to mothers.

Sturgeon says the boxes "symbolises the fair and equal start" she seeks to create for every child.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson criticised the SNP's continued support for universal free university education.

Davidson called free university tuition "middle class giveaways".

She said: "Education should be the best way to change lives for the better - but the SNPs middle class giveaways means those who've most to gain from life changing chances, are those that are harmed most by this government's policies.

"We, on these benches, will continue to push for more funding for further education colleges over the course of this parliament to reverse the SNP cuts in the last one."

The Conservative leader said her party would oppose any economic polices which are "sighted fixes or tax raids born of envy rather than common sense".

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale questioned why education is only becoming priority now.

She said: "The question must also be asked as why it has taken nine years for the SNP to make education their priority?

"There is no greater priority for Scotland and for this Parliament than education. Whether it is in pursuit of a fairer, more socially just Scotland or a Scotland more at peace and at ease with itself, or a wealthier and more prosperous Scotland, then education is the path, the door and the key."

Dugdale said her party's priorities will include protecting NHS and "giving everyone, regardless of their background or where in the country they live, access to Scotland's world beating heritage, arts and culture".

The Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie promised that his party would bring forward "positive proposals" to the government.

He said: "In this session of the Scottish Parliament with a minority Government, all political parties will need a positive agenda if we want to exercise influence in the parliament.

"Simply laying implacable demands or seeking to block action I don't think will work. Greens will make positive proposals and I think our track record in the previous session of minority government demonstrates that this approach can get results.

"The SNP may come to feel naturally entitled to propose its programme but without a majority it will need to convince, it will need to compromise, and it will need to be willing to give ground."

Nicola Sturgeon was accused of timidity by the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie in his response to the speech.

Rennie said: "The reality is she needs to focus on the big challenges that we face. She is also hunting for things like plans, advisers, councils of advisers, consultations, summits - anything but action to make a change for the future of our country.

"I think we need to choose bold, ambitious options rather than the timidity that we have seen from the SNP statement today." He called for more investment in areas including mental health, GP services and education.

He continued: "I think also we need to recognise that the SNP have lost their majority. You wouldn't think it from the statement that was made. I think it's clear we need to recognise that and that the SNP need to reach out across the chamber. And it will need more than a couple of references to policies from other parties."

The First Minister also set out her plans for the health service over the next five years.

Revenue spending on NHS Scotland is set to rise by £500m greater than inflation and the government will develop a 10 year strategy on mental health services.

The SNP leader also promised to examine a policy from Scottish Labour manifesto which would see the minor ailments service extended to all pharmacies.