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 […]
FREE BSL for All: The School of Signs now in more than 2000 schools across the UK
Signature, the UK’s leading awarding body for deaf communication and language qualifications, has announced the release of five new episodes to its free ‘School of Signs’ programme, now used in more than 2,000 schools across the UK to teach BSL to primary school children. Following the legal recognition of BSL as a language in 2022 and ongoing discussion surrounding a […]
HOW OUTWARD BOUND IS TRANSFORMING TEACHERS
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE TEACHERS SPACE TO STEP BACK, RECONNECT AND REFLECT? Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers, but it can also be relentless. Pressures around budgets, inspections, behaviour, and accountability can grind staff down. At Outward Bound, we believe that supporting teachers is just as important as supporting students. Our 2025 […]
Get ready for the Ultimate K-POP party!
Get ready for the Ultimate K-POP party, featuring all-live performances of smash-hits including Blackpink, BTS, Twice, Soda Pop, Golden and many more, this is the ultimate non-stop party. 15th Feb 2026 – 1pm & 5pm at O2 Academy Glasgow BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
More than £300 Support for Primary School Children
Parents and carers in Scotland have until midnight on 28 February 2026 to apply for over £300 of support for children when they are old enough to start primary school. School Age Payment is worth £319.80 for each child to help with the cost of preparing for school. The payment helps carers and families facing additional costs […]
New Chief Inspector of Education
A former head teacher is set to be appointed Scotland’s new Chief Inspector of Education. Ruth Binks, currently Corporate Director of Education, Communities and Organisational Development at Inverclyde Council, will start in the role at the end of March, subject to final pre-appointment checks being completed and the appointment being made by an Order of […]
Delivering Additional Support for Learning
A national review into the provision of Additional Support for Learning (ASL) will be led by former Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland Janie McManus. Announcing the appointment to Parliament, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said Ms McManus will lead an expert group to examine how to strengthen delivery, including provision in schools and how policy […]
A Budget to Tackle Child Poverty
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has said the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 is a “landmark intervention” in the Scottish Government’s drive to tackle the root causes of child poverty and increase living standards. Around £8 billion has been earmarked for the social justice portfolio, boosting support for vulnerable people and low-income families. This includes plans to: Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville met parents in receipt of any of the Five […]
Expansion of Breakfast Clubs
New funding will allow every primary pupil in Scotland to access a breakfast club, the First Minister has said. The Scottish Budget will provide an additional £15 million in 2026-27 to expand breakfast club provision and help schools, councils and third sector partners prepare for the introduction of universal breakfast club services by August 2027. […]
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, […]
Recovery Effort Begins while Schools Remain Shut
Around 440 schools remain closed across Scotland while action continues to return services to normal in affected areas. Every effort is being made to ensure affected schools can reopen as soon as possible with remote learning being provided where possible. A further meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGORR) has been held to continue […]