Independent review of maternity services begins
A nationwide review of Scotland’s maternity services begins today, examining how care can be improved for women, babies and families. Chaired by maternal and child health expert Professor Christine McCourt, the independent review will take a whole-system approach, drawing on data, evidence and the direct experiences of women, families and staff at every level of […]
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 […]
Head lice cases set to spike by 30% in September
With children back to school it is safe to say we are about to see a massive spike in head lice cases! Head lice expert Dani Knapp, whose family business Nitty Gritty have been helping families tackle head lice for over 25 years, explains why cases become so extreme in September and more importantly how […]
Food Allergies: What Every Parent Needs to Know
A food allergy diagnosis can leave parents feeling frightened, overwhelmed and full of questions. Suddenly every meal, birthday party and school trip can feel like something that needs careful planning. According to paediatric allergist Dr Alice Hoyt, those feelings are completely understandable – but they don’t have to define family life. “No parent wants this […]
Parents say family mealtimes are a major source of stress
Cooking, meal planning and food shopping are among the biggest weekday frustrations for UK parents, according to new research commissioned by Very Lazy. The survey of 2,000 UK parents and households found women are almost twice as likely as men to describe getting dinner on the table as a daily source of stress. While 84% […]
Welcome to School Bag
Around 47,000 children starting Primary One in the next academic year, 2027-28, will be the first to receive a Welcome to School backpack in a variety of colours, to help them start school feeling excited, supported and ready to learn. Procurement of the first bags is now underway following engagement with children, families and teachers […]
Surveys to explore families’ experiences of smartphones, social media and going online
Families are being invited to share their experiences of using smartphones, social media and the internet through surveys aiming to identify what support they need to stay safe online. The first survey explores how children and young people use screens, apps and social media, as well as assessing the possible effects on their wellbeing and […]
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 […]
New Childsafe Music App Launches for Young Smartphone Users
A new music feature from child-first smartphone platform Sayph is giving children access to music and live radio without the videos, social media, and recommendation algorithms found on many mainstream streaming services. Sayph Music allows users to listen to a curated selection of popular UK radio stations, including BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, Heart, […]
How to Inspire a Love of Reading at Home
Choice plays a huge role in helping children develop a genuine love of reading. Young readers are far more likely to engage with books when they feel they have ownership over what they read. Whether it’s fantasy adventures, football annuals, joke books, manga, graphic novels, comics or short non-fiction, every type of reading has value. […]
£2.5 million to expand after school activities
An additional £2.5 million is being invested to expand free after school activity clubs for primary school children from low-income families, starting this August. The investment builds on the success of the Extra Time programme – delivered in partnership with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) – which currently supports around 5,000 children every week across […]