How to watch the Solar Eclipse Safely
Get ready! The UK’s most significant eclipse since 1999 will be visible tomorrow (Wednesday 12 August). While the UK will see a partial eclipse people in parts of Iceland, Greenland and Spain will have access to the total eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs whenever the moon comes between the sun and the earth and casts […]
Advice for Common Summer Stings and Irritations
Spending more time outdoors means more opportunities for family fun but it can also bring a few seasonal skin complaints. From nettle stings to insect bites, most can be treated at home with simple first aid. Here are some practical tips based on NHS advice. Nettle stings are a common summertime nuisance. The tiny hairs […]
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. […]
Unlocking Scottish History & IDL Through Fiction
As primary educators across Scotland prepare for the term ahead, finding the right hook to inspire learners while balancing Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL) can feel like a tall order. That is precisely what the latest Summer Special episode of Let’s Chat: Leading Learning with Twinkl Scotland aims to solve. Hosted by Gillian Steven, Twinkl Scotland’s Primary […]
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 […]
Grandparents cutting back on holidays and savings to provide childcare, research finds
Grandparents across the UK are sacrificing holidays, social lives and even retirement savings to help families cope with rising childcare costs, new research has revealed. A study commissioned by subscription lender Creditspring found that 70% of grandparents who regularly care for their grandchildren believe childcare-related costs have increased over the past year. While grandparent childcare […]
£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 […]
Nearly 30,000 more students benefit from free music tuition
The number of students learning an instrument has increased by almost 30,000 since the abolition of fees for music lessons in schools. A new report shows that annual investment of up to £12 million from the Scottish Government to fund free instrumental music tuition has seen participants increase to more than 70,000 since 2021. Those […]
Biggest update to curriculum in over a decade under way
The most significant reform of Scotland’s curriculum in more than ten years is underway, as the first early samples of new curriculum materials have been shared with councils across the country. Planned updates to the curriculum, prepared by Education Scotland and co-designed with input from over 1,500 teachers, nursery practitioners, and partners through the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC), will clarify knowledge and progression, making it clearer what children should know, […]
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 […]