Early education and care
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Education - National Improvement Framework - enhanced data collection: consultation
A consultation which seeks views on improving the collection of education data to assess progress towards closing the poverty-related attainment gap.
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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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Routine protective measures in schools, early learning and childcare (ELC) settings and daycare of children's services: impact assessments
Impact assessments of revised schools guidance and guidance for the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector which seek to ensure routine protective measures are a proportionate and appropriate response to competing harms.
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Routine protective measures in schools, early learning and childcare (ELC) settings and daycare of children's services: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment
Impact assessment of revised schools guidance and guidance for the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector which seek to ensure routine protective measures are a proportionate and appropriate response to competing harms.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children's Issues - children, schools, early learning and childcare settings - evidence summary
Summary report of the evidence on children, schools, early learning and childcare settings and transmission from COVID-19.
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Keeping the Promise implementation plan
The Promise implementation plan sets out our actions and commitments to Keep the Promise for care experienced children, young people and their families. It contributes to our ambition for every child in Scotland to grow up loved, safe and respected so that they realise their full potential.
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Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme: statutory guidance
Statutory guidance for the operation of the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme for local authorities and participating (registered) day care settings.
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National Islands Plan: annual report 2021
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.
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Home education guidance: consultation
This consultation seeks views on the proposed updates to the home education guidance. The guidance sets out the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and parents in relation to home education.
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Investment in tackling child poverty
Supporting low income households.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) supporting Gypsy/Travellers: framework for local authorities
This framework, created jointly with COSLA, is for local authorities and partners supporting Gypsy/Traveller communities whilst Scotland transitions to living with COVID-19. This framework replaces all previous versions.
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Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education
Report provided to Scottish Ministers by Professor Ken Muir on the replacement of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, reform of Education Scotland and removal of its inspection function.
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The Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2022
This is an amendment to secondary legislation in order to protect children’s eligibility for the targeted entitlement to funded early learning and childcare (ELC) for some 2 year olds. This follows UK Government changes to increase the National Living Wage from April 2022.
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New Bairns’ Hoose appointment
Post will drive improvements for children.
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National guidance for child protection in Scotland 2021
This guidance describes the responsibilities and expectations for all involved in protecting children and will support the care and protection of children.
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Early learning and childcare: national induction resource
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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Prevention of homelessness duties: consultation
Joint Scottish Government and COSLA consultation on the proposals for new prevention of homelessness duties. This consultation creates an opportunity for individuals and organisations to have their say on changes to the homelessness system in Scotland.
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Education - Achieving Excellence and Equity: national improvement framework and improvement plan 2022
Sets out 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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Summary Statistics For Schools In Scotland 2021
Headline statistics from the annual pupil and teacher census and early learning and childcare provision conducted in September 2021 and attendance, absence and exclusions for the 2020 to 2021 school year.
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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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Veterans and Armed Forces community: Scottish Government support 2021
This report highlights our continuing support for the Veterans and Armed Forces community in Scotland and provides an update on this year’s achievements and work undertaken to improve support and access to services for our Armed Forces, Veterans and their families.
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Assessment of wellbeing - draft statutory guidance: consultation
This consultation paper is for the public consultation on draft statutory guidance on assessment of wellbeing, as required in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
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Curriculum for Excellence review: implementation framework
A framework for how we will address the recommendations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, ‘Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence: Into the Future’. This will include using the analysis and advice set out in Professor Stobart’s working paper on assessment in secondary education.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) education recovery: key actions and next steps
Outlines our ongoing response to the impacts of the pandemic on education in Scotland, and sets out some key next steps we will take to address them.
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Childcare savings for families
Transformational offer helping thousands across the country.
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Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority: consultation
A consultation on the replacement of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the reform of Education Scotland.
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Boost for family budgets before Christmas
Around 148,000 children set to benefit.
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Children and young people - national neurodevelopmental specification: principles and standards of care
Seven standards for services to support children and young people who have neurodevelopmental profiles with support needs and require more support than currently available.
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National guidance for child protection committees undertaking learning reviews
Guidance to support child protection committees to reflect, learn and improve child protection systems and practice when a child or young person dies, is significantly harmed, or was at risk of death or significant harm or where effective practice has prevented harm or risk of harm.
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National guidance for child protection 2021: consultation report
This report shows the results of the public consultation on the revised national guidance for child protection in Scotland, and our response to the results.
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Early learning and childcare providers - local authority funding and support: overview
Sets ou information from local authorities on the sustainable rates they have set for providers in the private, third and childminding sectors to deliver ELC; and their approach, in line with guidance published in April 2019, for setting these sustainable rates.
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Financial sustainability health check of the childcare sector in Scotland
The financial sustainability health check has collected evidence on the sustainability of the childcare sector and the impact of COVID-19. It has been informed by detailed surveys of childcare providers, in-depth case study interviews with providers, and analysis of trends in registration data.
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Financial sustainability health check of the childcare sector: analysis and evidence
The financial sustainability health check has collected evidence on the sustainability of the childcare sector, including the impact of COVID-19, and sets out further actions to be taken. The report sets out the detailed evidence and analysis that has informed the health check.
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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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Summer offer for children and young people - 'Get Into Summer' programme: CRWIA stage 3
This child rights and wellbeing impact assessment concerns the £20 million summer offer for children and young people, one of the Scottish Government's 100 Days commitments.
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Summer offer for children and young people - 'Get Into Summer' programme: CRWIA stage 1
This child rights and wellbeing impact assessment concerns the £20 million summer offer for children and young people, one of the Scottish Government's 100 Days commitments.
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Summer offer for children and young people - 'Get Into Summer' programme: equality impact assessment
This EQIA concerns the £20 million summer offer for children and young people, one of the Scottish Government's 100 Days commitments.
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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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Coronavirus (COVID-19) - experiences of vulnerable children, young people, and parents: research
This report presents findings from qualitative research conducted with a range of children, young people and parents in vulnerable or seldom heard groups, carried out to explore their lived experiences during and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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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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Funding follows the child and the national standard for early learning and childcare providers: interim guidance
Interim guidance on requirements on early learning and childcare settings and local authorities from August 2020. This guidance was updated in March 2021.
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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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Coronavirus (COVID-19) - early learning and childcare provision: business and regulatory impact assessment
This Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) was undertaken to assess the impact of the coronavirus restrictions in January and February 2021 on early learning and childcare (ELC) businesses.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) - early learning and childcare provision: equalities impact assessment
This Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) was carried out to assess the impact of the restrictions to the provision of early learning and childcare in January and February 2021.
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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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The Provision Of Early Learning And Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020: children's rights and wellbeing impact assessment
Children's rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) on children's rights and wellbeing relating to the entitlement to funded ELC in a deferred year.
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The Provision Of Early Learning And Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020: business and regulatory impact assessment
Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) relating to the automatic entitlement to funded ELC where a family decide to defer their child's entry to P1.
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The Provision Of Early Learning And Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020: equality impact assessment Results
Equality impact assessment (EQIA) to consider the impacts on families with a protected characteristic where a further year of funded ELC is offered as parents have decided to defer their child's entry to P1 for a year.
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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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Early learning and childcare: letter to Directors of Education ELC LA leads
Joint letter from COSLA and Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd MSP to Directors of Education, early learning and childcare (ELC) local authority leads.
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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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Early learning and childcare audit 2019: our response
Our response to the Scottish Childminding Association’s 2019 ELC Audit.
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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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Continuity of carer and local delivery of care: implementation framework
Framework to enable maternity services to access useful tools, resources and information to implement continuity of carer and local delivery of care, and track progress.
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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 statutory guidance: consultation
This consultation sets out updated 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 2020.
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Early learning and childcare
Increase in number of children receiving additional funded hours.
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Early learning and childcare expansion: Fairer Scotland Duty
A summary of the Fairer Scotland Duty assessment carried out for the early learning and childcare (ELC) expansion.
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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 in Scotland - draft framework: consultation
This draft framework for consultation sets out a vision for out of school care, considers the current picture, and asks questions about the benefits and challenges of accessing out of school care.
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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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Barriers to employment in early learning and childcare: EQIA
This equality impact assessment (EQIA) was undertaken to consider barriers faced by those with protected characteristics to taking up employment in the early learning and childcare (ELC) sector and how we can use the opportunity of the expansion to increase the diversity of the ELC workforce.
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Early learning and childcare expansion - 2 year old eligibility: BRIA
Business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) which looks at the expansion of early learning and childcare from 660 hours per year to 1140 hours per year for eligible two year olds.
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Early learning and childcare expansion: EQIA
Equality impact assessment (EQIA) to consider the impacts on families with a protected characteristic of increasing the statutory entitlement to 1140 hours of funded ELC and of modifying the current session lengths.
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Early learning and childcare expansion - learning and wellbeing project: EQIA
Potential impacts of early learning and childcare expansion policy on the outcomes of children with protected characteristics.
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Early learning and childcare expansion: CRWIA
Children's rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) on childrens rights and wellbeing relating to the early learning and childcare expansion to 1140 hours by August 2020 for all eligible 2 year olds.
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Early learning and childcare expansion: BRIA
Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) relating to the expansion of early learning and childcare for 1140 hours per year for all 3 and 4 year olds, and eligible 2 year olds by August 2020.
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Early learning and childcare expansion - learning and wellbeing project: EQIA
Potential impacts of early learning and childcare expansion policy on the outcomes of children with protected characteristics.
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Early learning and childcare expansion: EQIA
Equality impact assessment (EQIA) to consider the impacts on families with a protected characteristic of increasing the statutory entitlement to 1140 hours of funded ELC and of modifying the current session lengths.
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Early learning and childcare expansion: CRWIA
Children’s rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) to consider the impacts that increasing the statutory entitlement to 1140 hours of funded ELC and modifying the current session lengths will have on children eligible for ELC in Scotland.
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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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Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006: national review progress report
This joint report from the Association of Directors of Education, the National Parent Forum and the Scottish Government outlines the progress that has been made in the fields of parental involvement, parental engagement, family learning and learning at home.
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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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Parents' views and use of early learning and childcare: data tables
Figures showing parents’ and carers’ current use, future potential use, views and experiences of early learning and childcare.
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Parents' views and use of early learning and childcare: report
Information on parents’ and carers’ current use, future potential use, views and experiences of early learning and childcare.
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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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Early years assistance: consultation on the Best Start Grant regulations
This consultation asks questions on whether the draft Best Start Grant regulations will help to improve children’s wellbeing and life chances.
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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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A blueprint for 2020: the expansion of early learning and childcare in Scotland - 2017-2018 action plan
Outline of actions regarding the expansion of early learning and childcare.
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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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