Egg-splore, Egg-speriment, Enjoy! Family Easter Fun
Creating a joyful Easter for the whole family is all about embracing the excitement and fun this time brings. For children, it’s a welcome break from school, full of chocolate eggs, sweet treats and familiar traditions. While Easter egg hunts and outings are always popular, it’s worth considering how to make these experiences enjoyable for […]
How monologues can help young people build confidence, creativity, and communication skills
By Kate Brewster, Creative Content and Partnerships Manager at PQA – Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts For many children, the idea of speaking alone on a stage in front of others can seem daunting. Yet moments like school assemblies and year group plays are often part of growing up. These early experiences help build the […]
A Little Bit of Everything with Lukas Baker
A Little Bit of Everything is a warm, family-focused cookbook inspired by Lukas Baker’s German English roots. Filled with simple meals, comforting favourites and personal stories, it brings together recipes for all ages and skill levels. A celebration of home cooking, family traditions and the joy of sharing food. Here he’s sharing two delicious recipes […]
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 […]
Scottish Attainment Challenge Strengthens Educational Equity
A flagship education fund aimed at helping young people from more deprived areas has helped broaden opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and improved outcomes in a range of areas, a new report has found. The Attainment Scotland Fund (ASF) has helped narrow the poverty related attainment gap for primary and secondary literacy and numeracy […]
New package of support for parents
New support for parents to increase their incomes and reduce the burden of everyday costs, on top of existing work, will help to keep approximately 100,000 children out of poverty in 2026-27. More than £111 million is being committed to updated plans to eradicate child poverty through Bringing Hope, Building Futures. It builds on existing Scottish Government action which has already reduced relative child poverty rates in Scotland to the lowest levels […]
Why the Words We Use About Food Matter for Children
Parents often spend a great deal of time thinking about what their children eat – but far less time thinking about how they talk about food in general. Yet the language we use around eating can shape a child’s relationship with food just as powerfully as what appears on their plate. Children don’t learn about […]
Classroom Assistants: The Heartbeat of our Schools
Columnist, Katrina Mallon, Destined for Greatness NI has over 20 years’ experience in Behaviour Support Services, Katrina is passionate about helping children thrive. She now works closely with parents and schools to support children’s social, emotional, and behavioural wellbeing. Having spent this academic year providing training to countless teaching assistants, I am continually reminded of […]
Additional investment for neurodevelopmental support
Children, young people and their families will benefit from £3.4 million of additional investment to improve access to neurodevelopmental support. This brings investment in neurodevelopmental supports and services this year to more than £5 million, providing earlier help for families and ensuring people can access support that meets their needs. More than £1 million is […]
Words Matter: How to Communicate with Children so they Thrive
What we say to children matters – sometimes more than we realise. That’s why Words Matter, the UK charity founded to end childhood verbal abuse by adults, has created a new free, first-of-its-kind online course launching this January. Called Words Matter: How to Communicate with Children so they Thrive, the evidence-based programme is designed for parents, carers, […]
£10m Emergency Support for Families
More support will be available to families and households to help cover the cost of life’s essentials and to deal with emergencies. First Minister John Swinney has confirmed that £10 million originally earmarked in 2025-26 to support the two-child limit mitigation payment in Scotland will be reallocated to tackling child poverty. The majority of the […]
Family Resolutions to try in 2026
New Year’s resolutions are often made with the best of intentions but keeping them is another story. Many of us set ambitious goals every January, only to feel overwhelmed by February. But what if resolutions didn’t have to be a solo challenge? What if the whole family got involved? Setting family resolutions can turn positive […]