Winter heating help for over 1 million people
An estimated 1.4 million payments will be made to people across Scotland to help with heating their homes this winter, with payments set to begin from October. The Scottish Government’s unique package of winter heating benefits provides guaranteed support to pensioners, low-income households and families with disabled children and young people. Pension Age Winter […]
Seven Everyday Essentials for a More Focused School Day
When classroom concentration dips, the usual response may be to buy new stationery or introduce a stricter study timetable. However, hydration, sleep, food, movement and a child’s surroundings can also affect how prepared they feel to learn. Yusuf Okhai, Managing Director at ION8, says physical and emotional preparation should not be overlooked. “A student’s environment and […]
Views sought on phone restrictions in schools
Legislation to protect pupils’ education and wellbeing Pupils, parents and teachers are among those being encouraged to share their views about restricting phones in schools with the launch of a public consultation today. The Scottish Government’s consultation will inform the development of legislation to restrict phone use in schools, given concerns about the harmful effect […]
Ask the Nutritionist – Let Summer Be Summer: How to Handle Treats Without the All-Day Snack-Fest
The school gates have shut for eight weeks, and the ice cream van has already learned the exact time your children’s hearing becomes superhuman. Welcome to the summer holidays people. Lovely in theory, a little feral in practice. Here is something no one seems to tell us about – the biggest change in summer is not […]
Belonging Matters: Why Children Need to Feel Seen More Than Ever
By Mar, Family Celebrant, Scottish Borders After nearly forty years working in early years education, one of the biggest changes I’ve noticed isn’t in how children behave — it’s in how connected they feel. Families today are doing their very best in busy, pressured lives. Technology helps us organise, communicate and cope. But it has […]
New website launched to help parents navigate child maintenance
A new website, co-developed with parents with lived experience of both paying and receiving child maintenance, has launched to help families understand and be able to navigate the child maintenance system better. The website was developed by a working group made up of parents with lived experience, One Parent Families Scotland, Fife Gingerbread, Citizens Advice Scotland, Scottish Women’s […]
New Overnight Social Media Curfew Announced
Teenagers aged 16 and 17 across the UK will be subject to a new overnight social media curfew under government plans aimed at promoting healthier online habits. The proposed measures would see popular platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, automatically restricting access between midnight and 6am for older teenagers. However, users would have the option […]
Support with extra costs over the school holidays
Families across Scotland are being encouraged to check what financial and community support they may be entitled to as expenses rise over the summer break. When schools close, many families face increased financial pressure on household budgets, including the cost of food, childcare, clothing and activities. Ongoing cost of living challenges can also make this time of year particularly difficult. Social Security Scotland provides a range of payments to help families with everyday costs. These include Best Start Foods, a prepaid card worth up to £44.80 per […]
Childcare Support Fund: how to apply
The Childcare Support Fund is a £15 million, single-year grant for 2026 to 2027 designed to support low-income families who are living in poverty or at risk of living in poverty by helping them manage the cost of childcare and reduce financial pressures at key times. The Fund contributes to the drivers of child poverty reduction set out in […]
Families Invited to Apply for Edinburgh Holiday Hub Support
Applications are now being accepted for Edinburgh’s long-established Holiday Hub programme, which supports children and young people with disabilities and additional support needs. Organised by the City of Edinburgh Council, the initiative offers school holiday activities for those who may not be able to take part in mainstream programmes because of the level of support […]
Childhood Dementia
Scotland has taken an ‘important step forward’ in recognising childhood dementia by funding specialist support for families affected by it, Health Secretary Neil Gray has said. The Scottish Government is providing £118,873 to Alzheimer Scotland to support the employment of two childhood dementia development officers – the first country in the United Kingdom to fund […]
AI Guidance for Schools
Guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Scotland’s schools has been published for the first time. The guidance aims to support those working in schools to use AI in a fair, safe and ethical way. It provides information on the potential benefits of using AI and the issues to be mindful of, while […]