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 […]
£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 […]
Spring Clean Scotland success across the country
Almost 35,000 people across the country took part in more than 3,000 litter picks during #SpringCleanScotland 2026 – Scotland’s largest mass litter picking event. Spring Clean Scotland takes place every year, encouraging people to organise or join a litter pick to clean up their local area. Across Scotland, this year saw: The Education team organised a […]
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 […]
Rising numbers of adults reaching out to NSPCC Helpline about children being left home alone
Contacts to the NSPCC Helpline from adults concerned about a child being left at home alone or unsupervised have risen by 11%, the charity reports as it offers parents advice with the summer holidays approaching. The service, which provides help and advice for adults with concerns about the wellbeing of a child, handled 7,452 contacts […]
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 […]
Government Announces Proposed Social Media Ban For Under-16s
The UK Government has announced plans to introduce new restrictions on children’s access to social media, including a proposed ban on under-16s using major social media platforms. Under the proposals, platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X would be required to prevent users under the age of 16 from accessing their services. […]
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 […]