Holyrood’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee has endorsed the general principles of the Transport (Scotland) Bill but has warned that some of the proposed measures will stretch the financial rrsources of cash-strapped local councils.
Continue reading Holyrood committee backs Transport Bill … but calls for clarity
UK Employment Minister Alok Sharma has welcomed the fall of over a million workless households since 2010. Continue reading Workless households fall by over a MILLION since 2010
Continue reading Deprivation has a negative impact on the health of people with Type 1 diabetes
BiFab trade unions GMB and Unite have today said a ‘level playing field’ is needed if Scotland is to secure the large-scale manufacturing contracts from its own offshore renewables sector – and they are asking the First Minister and the Scottish Parliament to intervene. Continue reading Unions call for ‘level playing field’ as Scotland loses out on £2.8 billion contract
Ahead of this weekend’s Six Nations fixtures, rugby fans are being encouraged to show their true colours and share pictures of themselves in fancy dress in a bid to win a world title – the inaugural Rugby Fancy Dress World Championships. Continue reading Capital occasions dressed to thrill – rugby fancy dress world championship quest is on
Language learning in primary school can help reverse 18-year low in GCSE Modern Foreign Language (MFL) entries.
The BBC last week released a report showing steep decline in the number of UK teenagers learning a language. The analysis shows drops of between 30% and 50% since 2013 in the numbers taking GCSE language courses in the worst affected areas. Most schools said the reason for the decline was the perception among pupils of languages being a difficult subject.
This follows the Labour government’s decision in 2004 to reverse the “Languages for All” policy and no longer making a languages GCSE a requirement. In 2010 the Westminster government attempted to reverse the decline by making language learning compulsory in English primary schools.
This coincided with the launch of Lingotot.
Lingotot founder, Angela Sterling, had been a secondary MFL teacher and was concerned about the decline so decided to throw herself into making primary languages provision of a high standard in a bid to help boost the numbers of children taking GCSE and A Level languages.
Since 2016 Lingotot teachers across the country have been delivering their bespoke qualifications in primary school languages accredited by NCFE. They are benchmarked at entry level, one step before GCSE which sets children on the right path for progression in language learning. This is a first for the UK.
NCFE is the UK’s longest established awarding body and is respected for its professionalism and quality.
Christine Paxton, Head of Accreditation and Employer Services at NCFE, said: “We’re pleased to have accredited Lingotot’s modern foreign language programme for primary schools.
“It’s great news for pupils – for the first time they receive formal, external recognition of their achievements. Learning modern foreign languages at a young age is important and Lingotot will help many primary schools to deliver high quality MFL programmes, so we’re delighted to be able to support this by providing recognition to those who complete these courses.”
Nick Gibb, the minister with responsibility for school standards at Westminster, says the overall picture in Great Britain is improving.
“We are taking a range of measures to do this, such as creating a new network of schools that excel in the teaching of languages to share their expertise and best practice with others and setting up a new mentoring project to encourage pupils’ interest in languages.”
Angela Sterling, former foreign languages teacher and founder of Lingotot added: “If the government is serious about reversing this decline through engaging children at a younger age – which language professionals fully endorse – it is essential that there is an obvious pathway for progression.
“Having official qualifications will help secondary schools to ensure progression continues from the outset which will go a long way to fulfilling the government’s pledge to make MFL a priority. We are seeing this in action as our children move from primary to secondary school.”
Giselle Dominguez from Lingotot North Edinburgh commented: “I am sad to see a decline in MFL exam entries. Having studied languages myself I know the immense benefits which are more than linguistic.
“As well as speaking a foreign language, increasing young people’s cultural awareness and their ability to work with people from around the world is just as important.”
The multi award winning business, which was established in 2010, provides pre and primary school aged language classes in French, German, Italian, Spanish, ESL, Welsh, Arabic and Mandarin and now teaches more than 15,000 children each week through its growing franchise network.
Bristo Community Brass Band
Saturday 23rd March at 7pm, Bristo Baptist Church
Calling all quizzers: we’re hosting our first ever pub quiz!
Come along for a fun-filled evening of trivia, with all proceeds going to our #SavePCHP campaign. Our quiz master will be local DJ, Mark Patterson. We’ll also have a raffle and have a selection of great prizes.
£2 per person to take part, max team size will be 6.
On 14 March from 7.30pm.
In the bar area at the Village Hotel,140 Crewe Road South, EH4 2NY.
All welcome!
Three Edinburgh residents have been awarded prestigious Churchill Fellowships offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel the world and research cutting-edge solutions to important topical issues. Continue reading Three Edinburgh residents awarded prestigious Churchill Fellowships
More than £50 million is to be spent on improving access to mental health services for expectant and new mothers, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
The new money will provide access to treatment for an additional 11,000 women who experience mental health problems during and after their pregnancy. Perinatal mental illness affects up to 20% of women, and covers a wide range of conditions. If left untreated, it can have long lasting effects on women and their families.
New models of service delivery will be introduced, including specialist care for acute perinatal mental health problems and improved infant mental health services.
A new needs assessment report, funded by the Scottish Government, has been published by the national Managed Clinical Network (MCN) for perinatal mental health. The report outlines recommendations to improve the provision of mental health care for expectant and new mothers and their families.
Speaking on a visit to the mother and baby unit at St John’s Hospital in Livingston, the First Minister said: “Our priority is to drive up standards of perinatal metal health care for new mothers and their children right across Scotland.
“Mental illness during pregnancy and during the first year after birth is really common, affecting up to one in five women, which is 11,000 a year.
“This new funding will identify mental health problems quickly so they can be treated promptly. Women and their families should also expect services to treat them with dignity and respect.
“The impact is not just felt by women. The mental and physical health of fathers and other partners can also be affected following the birth of a new baby. We also know that between 5% and 10% of fathers may develop mental health problems in the perinatal period.”
Dr Roch Cantwell, Lead clinician for the Perinatal Mental Health National Managed Clinical Network, said: “This report results from the enthusiasm, dedication and drive of women and their families who experience perinatal mental ill health, and the professionals who care for them across Scotland. Perinatal mental illness can be devastating, but we know that there are effective treatments which can manage and, in some circumstances, prevent its onset.
“The needs assessment and service recommendations report gives us a template to establish services which will ensure that women, their infants and families, receive expert care wherever they live in Scotland and that children can have the best start in life.”
The Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board – chaired by Hugh Masters – will oversee and manage the £50 million investment.
The Perinatal Mental Health Managed Clinical Network is a Scotland-wide network of specialist clinicians focused on improving perinatal mental health.
The needs assessment report can be found here
