Spring Clean Scotland 2026 is running between 13 March and 24 April 2026
#SpringCleanScotland runs until 24 April, so there’s plenty of time for you to get involved. There are events taking place all across Scotland so find one to join or organise your own. If you’re one of the 67% who agree litter makes them feel embarrassed about their neighbourhood, this is your chance to make a […]
Children’s Commissioner responds to landmark restraint law passing
A new law regulating the use of restraint and seclusion on school pupils has been unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament. The legislation, sometimes referred to as “Calum’s Law”, introduces national rules on when and how such measures can be used in schools. It aims to ensure restraint or seclusion is only applied as a last resort […]
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 […]
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 […]
Save on Easter childcare egg-spenses with Tax-Free Childcare
Working families are being encouraged to cut the cost of Easter childcare by signing up to Tax-Free Childcare with HMRC. Latest figures show 542,700 families saved on their childcare bills in December 2025 and more than £46 million in government cash helped with childcare costs for almost 660,000 children. Meanwhile, more than 542,000 families saved […]
New Education Scotland Chief Executive
A former head teacher and local authority head of education has been appointed as the new chief executive of Education Scotland. Donna McMaster, formerly Head of Education at West Lothian Council, will take up the role next month at the helm of the national education body tasked with leading on curriculum design, delivery and improvement, […]
Should Under-16s Be Banned from Social Media?
The debate over whether children under 16 should be banned from social media has gained momentum following a recent vote in the House of Lords. Peers backed an amendment calling for age-based restrictions on social media platforms, citing growing concern about the impact of online content on children’s mental health, behaviour and wellbeing. Despite backing […]
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 […]
Families freed from school meal debt
More than 70,000 instances of support were provided to families to clear historic school meal debt as a result of nearly £2.9 million investment, a new report shows. The School Meal Debt Fund, launched in May 2024, was distributed to the 30 councils that applied for assistance to clear debt accrued by families up to […]
Scotland meets CAMHS waiting times commitment
Scotland has met its Programme for Government commitment on specialist children’s mental health waiting times, with new statistics confirming that 90% of children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) started treatment within 18 weeks of referral by the December 2025 target date. The Scottish Government has invested significantly in […]