Work to provide every school pupil in Scotland with a laptop or tablet has started. Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has confirmed discussions with local government are underway to deliver the ambitious commitment, which will benefit 700,000 children. The government is also considering how to deliver consistent digital infrastructure across Scotland’sRead More →

More than 120 projects across Scotland will share £38 million to support survivors of gender-based violence and focus on prevention. The Delivering Equally Safe Fund includes more than £28 million for frontline services which provide direct support to women and girls, prioritising services that maximise their safety and wellbeing. TheRead More →

Targeted funding to recruit 1,000 new teachers and 500 pupil support assistants in the next academic year has been announced by Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville. The additional £50 million will support COVID-19 education recovery as schools return to full time face-to-face learning. In addition, £65.5m permanent funding will be allocatedRead More →

Up to 130,000 children will be able to benefit from 1,140 hours of free early learning and childcare (ELC) each year from this month. Available to all three and four-year-olds, as well as two-years-olds who need it most, the flagship commitment will save families childcare costs of around £4,900 perRead More →

Best Start Foods payments are increasing this month. The payment supports low income families to buy healthy food for children under the age of three, and forms part of the Scottish Government’s national mission of eradicating child poverty. Best Start Foods is part of a package of five family payments administeredRead More →

Children and young people aged 12-17 from key groups to be offered COVID-19 vaccine. Young people with certain conditions are to be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, in line with the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), before the majority of schools return on August 16. TheRead More →

A scheme to provide children in eligible pre-school settings with milk and a portion of fruit or vegetables starts on 1 August. The Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme replaces the UK Nursery Milk Scheme, making more healthy produce available for more children. All pre-schoolers who spend two hours or moreRead More →

Eligible families can apply for a grant of at least £120 to help with the cost of school uniforms. The Scottish Government and local authority leaders have reached an agreement to increase the national school clothing grant to a minimum of £120 per eligible primary school pupil and £150 perRead More →

Children and young people are getting geared up for a summer of fun as an exciting programme of activities is being delivered by over 100 City of Edinburgh Council services and partner organisations across the Capital. The Get into Summer initiative is part of a nationwide scheme funded by theRead More →