Paracetamol should be taken as directed in the patient information leaflet
Following publication of a new systematic review and meta-analysis in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health which found no evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD or intellectual disability among children, the MHRA has reaffirmed that paracetamol continues to be the safest option for managing pain and fever during pregnancy.
Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, said: “Paracetamol remains safe to use during pregnancy. This large-scale analysis of the evidence found no link between taking paracetamol during pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or disability in children.
“Paracetamol has been used for many years and is the recommended first choice for treating pain or fever during pregnancy. When taken as directed, it is safe and effective.
“As with all medicines, pregnant women should speak to their doctor, pharmacist or midwife if they have any questions, and follow the guidance provided with the medicine.”
Paracetamol is recommended as the first-choice painkiller for pregnant women, used at the lowest dose and for the shortest duration.
If pain does not resolve, then patients are advised to seek advice from their healthcare professional.
A series of relaxed, no commitment, information events are being held by Kibble, a national children’s charity, for individuals and couples keen to explore adoption
Residents across Edinburgh and the Lothians are being invited to gather more information about adoption on Big Adoption Day 2026, with Kibble Adoption offering a series of free no commitment information events designed to show how adoption can transform lives.
The charity is hosting a series of free events, both online and in-person, for people exploring adoption as a route to parenthood. These events are to celebrate Big Adoption Day, led by Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies (CVAA) and children’s charity Corum, which aims to highlight the benefit of adoption, and the urgent need for more adoptive families to come forward.
In Scotland, there is an overwhelming number of children with plans for adoption and not enough adopters across the country.
Taking place on Wednesday 21 January 2026, Big Adoption Day brings together adoption agencies across the UK to celebrate the joy of adoption and provide potential adopters with accessible, practical guidance in a friendly, pressure-free environment.
Prospective adopters are welcomed to join an information session with Kibble Adoption to explore adoption at their own pace, learn about the process of becoming an adoptive parent, and understand its positive impact on children across Scotland.
The events are:
Open Day: Wednesday 21 January 2026, 10am – 4pm at Kibble Adoption, Abbeyfield House, 1 Station Road, Paisley, PA1 2SB
Online Information Session: Wednesday 21 January 2026, 7pm – 8pm. Free places are available, email to secure a place at kasrecruitment@kibble.org
Adopters who attended Big Adoption Day last year, and have successfully welcomed a child into their lives, said:“If you are considering adoption, you already have the room in your heart so we would absolutely recommend taking the leap and finding out more.”
Sandy Mayhew, Executive Director of Community Services at Kibble, said: “Big Adoption Day is a fantastic opportunity for anyone in Scotland considering adoption. It’s a chance to learn how you could make a lifelong difference to a child’s life.
“At Kibble, we provide comprehensive, personalised support at every stage – from the very first enquiry to life after placement. This includes 24/7 access to our expert team, dedicated transition support, professional training, and ongoing workshops to help families thrive.
“Adoption can change lives, and we’re here to guide families every step of the way.”
Kibble Adoption’s approach ensures that every child is matched with the right family, and that adopters have the support, tools, and guidance they need to create a stable, loving home. By participating in these events, Scots can discover how adoption is not just a journey for children, but an opportunity to enrich their own lives as well.
For more information about adopting with Kibble Adoption and to book a place at Big Adoption Day events, visit www.kibbleadoption.org
Charity calls for change at Scottish Parliament event
24% of adults in Scotland believe that current Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenting (RSHP) education does not help children to understand online abuse
95% believed it was important to include content about online safety risks and staying safe online in relationships and sex education in schools
Provision of this education in Scotland is patchy and inconsistent
NSPCC calls for mandatory provision, more detailed guidance and greater prioritisation in the curriculum
The NSPCC reveals that almost one in four adults in Scotland (24%) believe that current Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenting (RSHP) education does not help children to understand online abuse, as the charity calls for it to be made age-appropriate, consistent and relevant for all children in the country.
The YouGov poll, which was commissioned by the NSPCC and surveyed over 1,000 adults across Scotland, also found that95 per cent of participants believed it was important to include content about online safety risks and staying safe online in relationships and sex education in schools and that over two-thirds of adults (67 per cent) believed it should be made compulsory.
The charity held an event at Scottish Parliament on Wednesday (14 January) to highlight why it is vital that the Scottish Government introduces a statutory duty for schools in Scotland to provide relevant relationships and sex education.
The charity is also calling for RSHP to be an educational priority and mandatory part of the curriculum, and for schools to receive more detailed guidance on the subject so there is consistency in the way it is taught.
At the event, which was sponsored by Martin Whitfield MSP and led by young people, speakers and guests were asked to explore why RSHP education is so important for children and young people.
One young woman’s terrifying experience of being sexually exploited online by an older man was read out at the event.
Aoife, 22, from East Kilbride, was 15 when a man, pretending to be a teenage boy, started chatting with her online and asked her to send him images of herself. He then attempted to control her behaviour by blackmailing her with these, threatening to share them with her friends and family on Facebook.
Aoife, NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate, said: “Through what started as a casual conversation online, he was able to start controlling what I did in real life, within a matter of hours. I remember it was 3am and I was sitting in my room, just shaking. I felt like I was the only person in the world and started crying.
“I want to help to make children safer online by sharing my story because, right now, the online world isn’t safe enough. I would like to help prevent other young people from going through the same experience as me in the future.
“You might hear stories about things like this and think ‘it won’t happen to me’. Parents think ‘that won’t happen to my children’ but it does. I want to raise awareness of that and help change things.
“If any other young person experiences this, I’d urge them to tell an adult they trust straight away. It feels like the worst thing in the world at the time but telling a trusted adult is the only way you can get the help you need.”
Rachel Talbot (19), from Angus, NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate, said: “At my school RSHP was taught the same way as English or Maths which made the whole experience incredibly awkward and difficult to properly engage with class discussions.
“It’s a personal and often sensitive topic so it’s better to teach smaller groups where the young people can develop trust, rather than having them ask awkward questions in a large class.
“The online world is such a central part of growing up now and young people need to know how to look out for themselves in these spaces. It’s especially important that discussions around the types of content they might come across is at the forefront of the curriculum.
“Young people are often exposed to inaccurate representations of healthy relationships and sex online, and if this isn’t discussed, they could develop an unhealthy view of how these things should work in the real world.”
While RSHP is part of the health and wellbeing area of Curriculum for Excellence, local areas have discretion about what is taught and when.
The NSPCC has found from its campaign work across the country that young people think the delivery of RSHP education is patchy and insufficient and the charity believes that many children could be missing out on vital knowledge that could protect them from harm and abuse.
Joanna Barrett, NSPCCAssociate Head of Policy, said: ““Unfortunately, we know from our work with young people across Scotland that not all pupils receive relevant and consistent relationships, sex and health education.
“In all other nations in the UK it’s mandatory to teach this subject to children and young people. It helps them recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships and abusive behaviours in others and themselves, and we believe it can help to prevent harm to children, online and offline.
“Young people have a right to this fundamental education, and to be involved in influencing the way it’s delivered, so that it’s up-to-date and relevant to them.
“We are calling on the Scottish Government to prioritise RSHP education and ensure that teachers and schools are adequately resourced to deliver it.”
The youth-led Young Women Know campaign on healthy relationships, safe spaces, and consent on and offline was delivered by NSPCC Scotland and The Young Women’s Movement, over the last six years, with support from Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council and Dundee City Council.
The young women who led the campaign, which included the ‘Oor Fierce Girls’, ‘Bold Girls Ken’, and ‘Brave Lassies Blether’ projects, created resources which have been added to the Relationships and Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP.scot) education website for children and young people.
This means they are available to schools, colleges and community-based learning as part of the Curriculum for Excellence.
Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.
37 organisations have joined us in our call for Scotland’s political parties to show their commitment to keeping the promise to children, young people, families, and care experienced adults.
With clear focus, brave decision-making, and sustained cross-party support in Parliament over the next five years, Scotland can keep the promise.
Thank you to all the partners and collaborators that have joined us so far.
If your organisation would like to sign the open letter, it is not too late and every voice counts.
Changes to improve, simplify and clarify the legislative framework for the children’s care system to benefit children in care, their families and the workforce that support them will be considered by an independent, expert-led review.
The review, to be led by Professor Kenneth Norrie, a leading authority on family law in Scotland, is expected to conclude within 12 months. He will work in partnership with the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS) which works to improve policy and practice in supporting families.
The review will build on initial exploratory work carried out by The Promise Scotland and will gather evidence on whether the existing legislative framework should be revised, and advise on how doing so could deliver practical and tangible benefits for children, families and the workforce.
Natalie Don-Innes, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, announced the review as part of the Scottish Government’s response to the Stage 1 Committee report on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
Ms Don-Innes said: “Our aim is for children and young people to receive the compassionate and considerate care they need throughout their care journey, so that they grow up loved, safe and respected.
“Individuals and organisations have told me how challenging it is both to access the right support at the right time and to interpret the law around the care journey.
“This independent review will consider any opportunities to simplify the legislative landscape, to maximise practical benefits for children, their families and the professionals that support them.
I am pleased that Professor Norrie has agreed to lead this work, which will sit alongside broader proposals within the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.
“The Bill will help us take forward our commitment to Keep the Promise, by providing a legal right to advocacy, expanding aftercare support, and supporting smoother transitions between children’s and adult services – which people with care experience have told us they need, and I urge members across the Chamber to back the Bill’s general principles at Stage 1 this week.”
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.
The Scottish Government then plans to invest £44 million per year from 2027-28 to deliver the clubs for all primary school children in Scotland who want to access them. Every pupil attending a school specifically for children with additional support needs will also benefit.
Breakfast clubs not only give children a nutritious meal before school starts, they can also help improve school attendance and confidence in children, and the option of an early drop-off means parents have more flexibility so they can work or study.
First Minister John Swinney said: “My government is focused on delivering the priorities of the people of Scotland and through our budget, we are acting to provide help with the cost of living and doing all we can to eradicate child poverty.
“We know extending the school day before and after class can help children and their parents, particularly families who might be struggling with balancing the demands of getting to work early as well as the cost of the weekly food shop.
“Breakfast clubs are a perfect example of how we can give families the option of some extra support. Children can get a healthy start to their day as they eat breakfast and play with their friends, while parents are better able to get to work, or to take up training or study, knowing their children are being well looked after – there are clear benefits for the whole family.
“That is why we will invest £44 million each year to deliver a national breakfast club programme across all primary and special schools from August 2027, with the Scottish Budget investing £15 million in the coming year to support the expansion and help partners prepare.”
Scottish Government funding through the Bright Start Breakfasts programme currently supports 490 clubs and up to 20,000 children.
The 2026-27 Scottish Budget will provide £3 million to continue to support existing Bright Start Breakfasts clubs and a further £15 million to help prepare for expanded provision from August 2027.
A universal breakfast club offer will be available to all children attending primary or special schools in Scotland.
Edinburgh Leisure is kicking off the new year by giving primary-aged children the chance to discover a new passion – without the commitment.
Their popular ‘Next Big Thing’ Coaching Tasters are here, offering £3 taster sessions from 26 January – 1 February, plus an exclusive half-price February coaching offer when you sign up on the day.
The campaign aims to spark curiosity and encourage kids to try something new, from swimming and gymnastics to tennis and more. All sessions are delivered by expert instructors in a fun, friendly environment.
“Sports coaching isn’t just about learning a skill – it’s about building confidence, making friends, and staying active,” said Angela McCowan, Sports Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure.
“Our tasters give families the chance to explore what works for their child before committing to a full programme.”
With only 59% of school-aged children meeting recommended daily activity levels, Edinburgh Leisure is urging parents to help their children find their next big passion through sport.
Why Join?
Fun, friendly coaching for all abilities
Expert instructors to guide every step
A great way to stay active, make friends, and build confidence
Flexible options across the city
Book Now:Explore available sessions and sign up at:
Make this January the start of something big – because diving, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, athletics, badminton, tennis or football could be your child’s Next Big Thing.
New youth group starting at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre next Wednesday (14th January) between 4pm – 5pm.
This is open to any young people aged 8 – 12 who are struggling with socialising or confidence, whether that be due to learning disabilities, mental health or other factors.
