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 […]
Schools urged to ban phones during teaching time ‘as a minimum’
Schools are being encouraged to restrict the use of mobile phones by following updated national guidance, published today ahead of planned legislation to create phone-free learning environments. Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said schools should introduce restrictions during teaching and learning time “as a minimum”, while also considering implementing whole school restrictions. Publication of the updated guidance […]
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 […]
Protecting young people against MenB
Thousands of young people in Scotland are to be offered free vaccination against meningococcal B disease (MenB) ahead of the 2026-27 academic year. Meningococcal disease, which can include meningitis and/or septicaemia, is life-threatening and can result in life-changing disabilities including amputations, hearing loss, and brain damage. It is fatal in around 10% of cases. The […]
Change lives – in and beyond the classroom
Every day, teachers create calm, nurturing spaces where children feel safe and encouraged to thrive. The care you bring to the classroom can make a lasting difference — and for some children, that same support is needed beyond the school day. At Aberlour Children’s Charity, foster carers help children and young people who can’t live […]
Applications open for Best Start Grant School Age Payment
Families across Scotland can now apply for over £330 to help with the costs of preparing for primary school, as applications for Best Start Grant School Age Payment open now (1 June 2026). The payment, unique to Scotland, is available to eligible families with children born between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022. It […]
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 […]
Childline Counselling Sessions about Online Child Sexual Abuse Jump by over a Third in one Year
Children’s charity the NSPCC are raising the alarm as Childline counselling sessions about online child sexual abuse and exploitation jumped by more than a third in the last year. New data from the NSPCC-run service reveals that between April 2025 and March 2026 Childline delivered 2,444 counselling sessions about online child sexual abuse and exploitation, marking a 36% annual increase. […]
Frosties Named UK’s Most Sugary Children’s Cereal as Junk Food ad Ban comes into Force
Frosties has been identified as the most sugary breakfast cereal marketed to children, according to new research, as new restrictions on junk food advertising come into effect across the UK. From April, foods and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) can no longer be advertised on television before 21∶00 or online at any […]