Early education and care
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More help for more families
Income thresholds to be removed for Best Start Foods.
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Relationships, sexual health and parenthood education in schools - draft statutory guidance: consultation
This consultation seeks views on draft updated statutory guidance on the delivery of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) education in Scottish schools. The draft guidance is an update to guidance originally published in 2014 and reflects recommendations from the PSE Review and LGBTI Inclusive Education Working Group.
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Fair Work Action Plan 2022 and Anti-Racist Employment Strategy 2022: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment
Child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) of the Fair Work Action Plan 2022 and Anti-Racist Employment Strategy 2022.
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Scottish Household Survey 2021 - telephone survey: key findings
A summary of the key findings from the Scottish Household Survey 2021 telephone survey.
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Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership - A fresh start
This publication sets out the First Minister’s vision for Scotland and the outcomes he and his government aim to achieve by 2026.
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Welcome to Scotland: a guide for Service personnel and their families - updated 2023
Welcome to Scotland is a guide to support service personnel and their families upon their move to Scotland. Due to the moving nature of service personnel and their families they can be transferred to different bases. This booklet gives key information on what to expect when moving to Scotland.
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National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022
The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 requires that a report is presented to Parliament each year setting out the progress made towards delivery of the National Islands Plan. This report sets out progress made during the 2022 reporting year.
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Experiencing Life Events and Childhood Subjective Wellbeing: A Longitudinal Analysis of Growing Up in Scotland
Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) is a longitudinal study following the lives of young people. This report presents analysis of several data sweeps of Birth Cohort 1 (BC1) and looks at the impact of some key life events on measures of subjective wellbeing.
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National Improvement Framework (NIF) and improvement plan 2023: summary
Summarises the vision and priorities for Scottish education that have been agreed across the system, and the national improvement activity that needs to be undertaken to help deliver those key priorities.
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Supporting outdoor play
Planning reforms to boost play provision.
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Early learning and childcare and school age childcare services inspection consultation: SG response
Scottish Government response to the consultation on inspection of early learning and childcare and school age childcare services in Scotland
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Early learning and childcare and school age childcare services inspection: consultation analysis
The analysis report of the consultation on inspection of early learning and childcare and school age childcare services in Scotland.
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Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group: interim report - easy read
Easy read version of an interim report outlines the group’s work so far and provides a summary of possible steps towards a Minimum Income Guarantee.
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Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group: interim report
This interim report provides an outline of the group’s work to date towards defining a Minimum Income Guarantee, the context in which the policy is being developed, provide a high-level overview of direction and early thinking towards potential actions.
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Renewing Scotland’s play parks
£50 million investment.
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Children and young people's voices matter: progress report - March 2023
Report on progress made on the actions agreed at the sixth annual meeting of Cabinet members and children and young people on 1 March 2022.
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An Toiseach as Fheàrr: Plana ro-innleachdail airson tràth-ionnsachadh agus cùram-chloinne aig aois sgoile airson Alba 2022-26 An Dàmhair 2022
Gaelic version of plan setting out how we will embed the benefits of our transformational investment in 1140 hours of high quality funded early learning and childcare. It also explains our approach to expanding our childcare offer over the next four years.
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Scottish local government finance - Green Book: 2023-2024
Scottish Local Government Finance Settlement 2023-24: Funding Allocation Formula.
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250,000 Baby Boxes delivered
Supporting parents with cost of living.
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Supporting roots: report
Report providing a broad picture of the needs of birth parents who have lost a child or children to ‘care’, and of the support and services that are currently available in Scotland. This report is designed to support best practice and service innovation.
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Deadline for School Age Payment approaches
Families urged to make sure they don't miss out
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Commission for the land-based learning review: report to Scottish Ministers
The report produced by the Commission, a short term advisory group established to provide independent, evidence-based advice and submitted to Scottish Ministers on how to attract more people into land-based and aquaculture sectors by improving learning pathways.
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Parents back funded Early Learning and Childcare
Independent survey shows benefits to children and families.
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Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland 2022
A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.
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Supporting children and families
Early learning and childcare savings.
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Help with school age childcare
£1 million to support low-income families.
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Best Start - strategic early learning and school age childcare plan 2022 to 2026
The plan sets out how we will embed the benefits of our transformational investment in 1140 hours of high quality funded early learning and childcare. It also explains our approach to expanding our childcare offer over the next four years.
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Record number of pupils in good condition schools
Statistics show impact of investment.
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Cost Crisis Programme for Government
Scottish Child Payment increased from 14 November.
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Early learning and childcare – national induction resource - latest version: January 2023
The early learning and childcare (ELC) national induction resource has been developed to support individuals in their induction to delivering ELC – whether that is funded ELC or ELC that families purchase themselves - setting out how individuals can expect employers to support them in their new role.
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Celebrating five years of the Baby Box
Revamp ahead of scheme’s milestone.
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National Discussion on education
Invitation to work together to drive change.
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Family Nurse Partnerships
Success of 10 year programme
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Childcare savings for families
Easing cost of living pressures.
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Free outdoor play activities
Supporting children’s wellbeing.
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Investment in tackling child poverty
Supporting low income households.
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New Bairns’ Hoose appointment
Post will drive improvements for children.
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Doubling the Scottish Child Payment
First Minister announces £20 payment from April.
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200,000 Baby Boxes delivered
Milestone for popular scheme.
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Childcare savings for families
Transformational offer helping thousands across the country.
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Boost for family budgets before Christmas
Around 148,000 children set to benefit.
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Scottish Child Payment helps more than 108,000 children
New Child poverty benefit pays out £17.6 million to families in need
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Backing for Baby Box
Parents praise scheme on its fourth anniversary.
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Increasing free early learning and childcare
Transformational offer to benefit families across the country.
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Early learning and childcare: statutory guidance - July 2021
Statutory guidance to education authorities to support them in exercising their functions in relation to the delivery of early learning and childcare from 1 August 2021.
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Early learning and childcare expansion
More children receiving 1,140 funded hours.
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Education recovery: next steps
SQA and Education Scotland to be reformed.
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Best Start Grant boost for parents
Financial support for school costs and healthy foods.
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Enhanced summer offer for all children
A national “summer of play” to provide access to activities.
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Early learning and childcare - Out to Play: guidance for out of school care providers - section 10
Supplementary chapter 10 should be used alongside the main Out to Play document to support the delivery of outdoor experiences in Out of School Care settings.
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Early learning and childcare - Out to Play: childminding settings - guidance - section 9
Guidance and advice for childminding settings on how to access outdoor spaces to create safe, nurturing and high quality outdoor learning experiences.
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Early learning and childcare - Out to Play: guidance for practitioners supporting children with additional support needs - section 11
Supplementary guidance (section 11) should be used alongside the main Out to Play document to support the delivery of outdoor experiences for children in early learning and childcare (ELC) with additional support needs.
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Nature-based early learning and childcare - influence on children's health, wellbeing and development: literature review
This review of global evidence aimed to understand the extent to which nature-based early learning and childcare (ELC) influences young children’s physical, cognitive, and social and emotional development
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First families receive Scottish Child Payments
52,000 applications approved.
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Increased support for childminders
Payments will support business sustainability.
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Back to school
Phased return for some pupils.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): children, young people and families - evidence summary - December 2020
Summary of Scottish and UK evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of children and young people.
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56,000 parents apply for Scottish Child Payment
Thousands have applied for the new payment for children aged under six
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40,000 Baby Boxes delivered
Support for new parents.
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Support for outdoor play and learning
New £1 million children’s winter clothing fund.
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Deferring entry to primary one
Local authorities to pilot extra funded childcare from 2021.
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Early learning and childcare access in a deferred year: joint implementation plan
Joint Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) plan for funded early learning and childcare places for all children who defer their primary one start.
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New benefits help families
Report shows positive impact of Best Start Grant payments.
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Childcare expansion from August 2021
New date for flagship policy announced.
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Nursery rate relief extended until 2023
Further support announced for childcare sector.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): impact on children, young people and families - evidence summary October 2020
Summary of Scottish and UK evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of children and young people.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): impact on children, young people and families - evidence summary July 2020
Summary of Scottish and UK evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of children and young people.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): impact on children, young people and families - evidence summary September 2020
Summary of Scottish and UK evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of children and young people.
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Out of school care - draft framework: consultation analysis
This is the summary report of the 2019 consultation on the draft framework for Out of School Care in Scotland. It will inform the final Framework and provide evidence for future development of School Age Childcare policy.
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Early learning and childcare: induction resource
This induction resource provides new ELC employees with all the relevant information they need on what to expect in their first few months in post, including the most up-to-date resources and best practice.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): impact of restrictions on children and young people: CRWIA stage 3
This Children's Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) sets out the consideration which has been given to children’s rights and wellbeing for the latest COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings to enable children and young people to live their lives as normally as possible, to reduce the impact on their health and wider wellbeing.
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Boost for Scottish youth work
New fund to help education recovery from COVID-19.
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Scottish Child Payment could support up to 194,000 children
Forecasts suggest around 24,000 additional children will qualify
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Help for childcare providers
Transitional Support Fund opens to help protect from COVID-19.
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Funding boost for science centres
Extra £2m to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
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Families to be alerted to additional financial support
A first for social security in Scotland.
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Support for childcare sector
Transitional Support Fund announced.
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Reopening childcare safely
Guidance published for nurseries and other settings.
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Wellbeing of pupils to be prioritised
Guidance for education authorities and teachers published for next academic year.
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Outdoor learning during the COVID-19 pandemic
Funding for Virtual Nature School.
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Schools to re-open in August
Safe return planned through mix of school and home learning.
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Easter childcare for key workers
Hubs to remain open over the spring break.
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Early Learning and Childcare expansion
Local authorities’ August 2020 deadline to deliver 1140 funded hours will be removed.
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Childcare provision for key workers
Criteria provided to local authorities to determine local need.
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Update on school closures and exams
Exams will not go ahead, teaching, learning and support can continue with local flexibility.
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School and nursery closures
Education Secretary to make statement to Parliament tomorrow.
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STEM Bursaries increased
Latest STEM Bursary Scheme opens for applications on Monday 16 March.
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Supporting parents
Tackling poverty through family learning.
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Reducing inequity in STEM subjects
Inspiring people of all ages to upskill and tackle the global climate emergency.
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Delivering for Scotland’s children
Early learning and childcare expansion on track with six months to go.
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Out to Play - creating outdoor play experiences for children: practical guidance
Guidance and advice for early learning and childcare settings and practitioners on how to access outdoor spaces to create safe, nurturing and inspiring outdoor learning experiences.
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Protecting family budgets
Putting wellbeing at the centre of Budget.
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Learning in STEM in early years
New online module launched to support staff development.
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170,000 children eligible for new benefit
Applications will be taken in advance for Scottish Child Payment to help with expected high demand.
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Early Learning and Childcare expansion
Families can now enrol children for funded places for August.
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45,000 Baby Boxes delivered in 2019
Parents and new-borns across Scotland benefitting.
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Early learning and childcare
Increase in number of children receiving additional funded hours.
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First step to new Scottish Child Payment
Plans for the creation of new benefit outlined.
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Early years expansion
Thousands of children already benefiting from additional hours.
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Training for childminders
New online learning resource to be launched.
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The right help at the right time in the right place: strategy for the learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs 2017-2026
This ten year strategy sits within the context of our other policies and strategies to improve the learning outcomes for children and young people with complex additional support needs living in Scotland.
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Scottish Child Payment ahead of schedule
Eligible families to start receiving new benefit next year.
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Out of school care parent survey: report
Details the views of parents/carers of five to 13 year old children regarding out of school care, including term-time and holiday care.
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Best Start Grant pays out nearly £13 million
Families getting more support under new system.
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New fund for after school and holiday childcare
Fund will deliver accessible and affordable childcare to support families on low incomes.
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Nurseries praised for innovation
New awards recognise Early Learning and Childcare success.
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Breastfeeding support ‘strong’
Report publishes during Breastfeeding Awareness Week.
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New School Payment launches
Full Best Start Grant package now available.
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Best start grant for young asylum seekers
Pregnancy and baby benefit will not jeopardise immigration status.
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Early Learning and Childcare expansion programme
New initiative will boost quality of childcare.
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Best Start Grant applications flood in
Social Security Secretary welcomes interest in new benefit.
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Meeting the social security challenge
Work to do but plans in place to deliver benefits system.
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New benefit pays out £3.5 million in first three months
More than 9,700 families receive Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby payment.
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New Best Start Grant Payment to open
£250 benefit starts Monday and will be fourth new social security benefit.
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Families and community learning
Funding to improve the lives of children and young people.
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Presumption to provide education in a mainstream setting: guidance
Guidance to education authorities on their duty to provide education in a mainstream setting unless certain exceptions apply.
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‘Ready Steady Baby’ guidance updated
New edition of NHS Scotland’s guide to pregnancy, labour and birth.
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Upgraded PlayTalkRead roadshow fleet
Roadshow visitors increase 31% in the last year.
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A meal for every child at funded early learning and childcare sessions
Major new Scottish Government scheme delivers healthy food, outdoor play & living wage in childcare.
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Olivia and Jack are Scotland's top baby names
National Records of Scotland reveals most popular names for 2018.
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Schools in Scotland and CfE Achievement
National and Official (Experimental - Data under development) Statistics Publications for Scotland.
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Ready to Act: interim report on implementation and recommendations
Progress made so far on supporting allied health professions children and young people (AHP CYP) community and direction for 2018-2020.
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Encouraging more men into childcare
New fund for pilot projects.
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More support for parents
New engagement plan to improve links between home and school.
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Learning together: national action plan on parental involvement, engagement, family learning and learning at home 2018 – 2021
Sets out a vision for parental involvement and engagement from pre-birth to age 18 and takes account of national and international evidence base and Scottish education system expertise. Provides a national vision but allows for local and community innovation and flexibility.
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Museum spot for Baby Box
Box will be placed into childhood exhibition.
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Baby Box birthday
A year since the first delivery.
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Improved anti-bullying measures
Incidents to be recorded.
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Pilot to end upfront childcare deposits
Parents set to benefit from new trial.
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Childcare recruitment underway
New campaign focusing on career changers.
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Almost a billion pounds to fully fund childcare
Funding package agreed in partnership with COSLA.
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Family nurses helping to deliver
More than 30,000 Baby Boxes now received.
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Learning outdoors
More than £860k to increase outdoor learning in the early years.
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Early years apprentices
Increases to fuel roll-out of funded childcare.
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2018: Baby boxes
First baby boxes of the new year delivered.
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Christmas Maths Challenge
DFM launches festive puzzles.
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Ticking all the right boxes
100% of parents satisfied with Baby Box and contents.
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Scotland’s Budget
Investing in the NHS, protecting low earners, backing Scotland’s economy.
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New Minister for Childcare and Early Years
First Minister to appoint Maree Todd.
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Improving attainment in early years
High quality childcare improves children’s development.
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Support for first-time mums
Family Nurse Partnership to be extended.
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Childcare spending to double to £840 million a year
Huge expansion of free early learning and childcare.
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Improving children's oral health
Childsmile programme expands.
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Scotland: a Daily Mile Nation
All Scottish schools encouraged to take part.
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Baby Box registrations reach 10,000
High number of parents already registered to receive a Baby Box.
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New visitor centre at Glenochil Prison
Formal opening for visitor centre.
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Parents get involved in Stay, Play and Learn
Trial Aberdeen childcare scheme underway.
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Giving children space to grow
New guide to improve childcare settings.
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Future of childcare provision
Minister confirms quality and choice at heart of new funding model for ELC expansion.
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Accessible childcare
FM announces fund to improve access to free ELC entitlement.
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Fair pay at heart of childcare expansion
8,000 childcare staff to earn the living wage.
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Ready to Act - A transformational plan for Children and young people, their parents, carers and families who require support from allied health professionals (AHPs)
The Plan meets the evolving needs of Children and Young People in providing an equitable and sustainable model that reflects the early years agenda and the integration of health and social care services
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Independent review of Scotland's early learning and out of school care workforces
An independent review of the skills and qualifications essential for the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and Out of School Care (OSC) workforces in Scotland.
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The Early Years Framework
Steps the Scottish Government, local partners and practitioners in early years services need to take to give all children in Scotland the best start in life.
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