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 […]
2026 Young Reporters for the Environment winners announced
Young people across Scotland have been celebrated in a national environmental journalism competition. The Young Reporters for the Environment competition, which we deliver in Scotland on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education, gives young people aged between eight and 25 an opportunity to speak on environmental issues through writing, photography, podcasting or video. Young Reporters for the Environment has been sponsored […]
£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 […]
Free family-friendly Live Site offers sporting opportunities at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
Children, young people and families can enjoy free activities, sport and live screenings of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games events at the Game On Live Site this summer. Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park will be transformed for 11 days to allow families and fans to gather to watch the Games on giant screens, while getting the chance to try a diverse […]
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 […]
Over 321,000 Children getting Vital Support
Across Scotland, 321,885 children are benefiting from Scottish Child Payment as of March 2026, according to newly published statistics. Launched in February 2021, the Scotland-only benefit is a weekly payment of £28.20, paid every four weeks to every eligible child under 16 within a household. Scottish Child Payment is expected to keep 50,000 children out of relative […]
Supporting families with cost of living ‘key focus’ of Scottish Government.
Supporting families with the cost of living and eradicating child poverty will be a key focus of the Scottish Government, First Minister John Swinney has said. Ahead of a visit to meet parents and children at a Bookbug session in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, the First Minister said tackling the cost of living, ensuring people get support before reaching a crisis, and helping children and parents in the early years will […]
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 […]