Tag: Children and Families

Free chickenpox vaccination offered for first time to children

A free chickenpox vaccination will offered for first time to children across England on the NHS from January – Scotland expected to follow suit

  • Government to launch chickenpox vaccination programme in England from January 2026, which will protect around half a million children each year
  • Eligible children will receive the vaccine during routine GP appointments, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox
  • The rollout will help raise the healthiest generation of children ever, while reducing sick days and time parents take off work

Thousands of children will be protected against chickenpox for the first time in England through a new vaccination programme that will keep kids in school and parents in work while also saving the NHS vital funds.

It’s expected that the vaccination programme will also be introduced in Scotland.

From January next year, GP practises will offer eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) – the clinical term for chickenpox – as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule.

It will mean kids miss fewer days in nursery and school while parents won’t need to take time off work to care for them. Research shows that chickenpox in childhood results in an estimated £24 million in lost income and productivity every year in the UK. The rollout will also save the NHS £15 million a year in costs for treating the common condition.

The chickenpox vaccine has been safely used for decades and is already part of the routine vaccine schedules in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany.

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said: “We’re giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong and preventing parents from scrambling for childcare or having to miss work.

“This vaccine puts children’s health first and gives working families the support they deserve. As part of our Plan for Change, we want to give every child has the best possible start in life, and this rollout will help do exactly that.”

The vaccination programme forms part of the UK government’s wider ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever as part of the Plan for Change — boosting the nation’s health and ensuring the future sustainability of the NHS as we shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention.

The vaccine will help reduce cases of chickenpox and protect children from serious complications that can cause hospitalisation, such as bacterial infections like strep A, brain and lung inflammation and stroke.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency said: “Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal.

“It is excellent news, that from next January, we will be introducing a vaccine to protect against chickenpox into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme – helping prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver.

“We now have extensive experience from a number of countries showing that the vaccine has a good safety record and is highly effective. The programme will have a really positive impact on the health of young children and also lead to fewer missed nursery and school days.”

The government’s decision to roll out the MMRV vaccine in January is based on expert scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), following research showing the significant impact of severe cases of chickenpox on children’s health, hospital admissions and associated costs.

Private vaccinations for chickenpox at pharmacies and clinics currently cost around £150 for a full course of two doses. This rollout will mean the vaccination will be available free of charge on the NHS to eligible children.

Other countries where the MMRV vaccine is already offered — such as Germany, Canada, and the United States — have seen substantial decreases in chickenpox cases and related hospital admissions since introducing their vaccination programmes.

Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England said: This is a hugely positive moment for families as the NHS gets ready to roll out a vaccine to protect children against chickenpox for the first time, adding to the arsenal of other routine jabs that safeguard against serious illness.

“We will work with vaccination teams and GP surgeries across the country to rollout the combined MMRV vaccine in the new year, helping to keep children healthy and prevent sickness from these highly contagious viruses.

“The MMRV vaccine rollout forms part of the government’s overall aim to ensure young people thrive, as part of the 10 Year Health Plan. This includes expanding access to vaccines, as well as free school meals, mental health support and dental care.”

This is the first time protection against another disease has been added to the routine childhood vaccination programme since the MenB vaccine in 2015.

Meanwhile, the Department for Education has recently announced plans to roll out Best Start Family Hubs in every local area, relieving pressure on parents and giving half a million more children the very best start in life.

The eligibility criteria for children will be set out in clinical guidance covering which age groups will get the MMRV vaccine and when, to ensure the most effective protection for children.

As with other childhood immunisations, parents will be contacted by their GP surgery to arrange an appointment if their child is eligible.

Research reveals the average age children in Scotland are granted independence

According to new data, 12 is the age when children in Scotland are given independence, with most parents granting new freedoms, including being responsible for a pet, going to the local shop alone, and having a mobile phone, at this age.

The research, which was conducted amongst UK parents by name label manufacturer My Nametags, found that children in Scotland are granted some freedoms earlier than the rest of the nation.

At 11, children in the country are allowed to walk to school alone but children in the rest of the UK must wait until age 12.

Similarly, children in Scotland are trusted to stay home alone, use the internet without supervision, and have their own bank card by age 12, a year earlier than the national average.

The data also shows differences between families living in a city compared with those in the countryside. Across the UK, children living in the countryside experience freedom a year earlier than those in urban areas, on average. For instance, children in rural areas can play outside alone by age 11, whilst those in cities must wait until age 12.

The research also investigated the impact of mobile phones on modern children’s independence. Whilst 51% of parents in the UK feel more comfortable allowing their children independence outside of the home because they carry a phone, the vast majority of parents are afraid of the risks posed by unsupervised mobile use. In fact, online bullying (80%) and online predators (83%) are now the top risks feared by parents.

Online habits are also the most likely to lead to regret, with personal mobiles and social media access the top freedoms parents wish they had waited longer to allow. This is often due to pressure from other families, with one in six feeling pushed into granting independence earlier than they feel comfortable by other parents.

Yet, despite concerns about the risks involved, 75% of parents aim to give their children independence at the same age or younger than they did when they were a child.

Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at My Nametags, commented: “We support parents as they prepare their children for new milestones, from starting nursery as toddlers, to heading off to secondary school. So, we were interested to find out more about attitudes towards independence amongst UK families.

“The data shows that many parents opt to grant their children more freedom around the time they start secondary school. But, it’s clear this isn’t an easy decision, with families weighing up the risks and benefits, whilst also grappling with external pressures.

“And it’s no surprise, granting a child independence is one of the most challenging aspects of parenthood. But it’s also one of the most rewarding. We hope this research makes parents feel less alone as they embark on this journey, and offers some useful insight to help them make the right decision for their family.”

The official age of independence in Scotland:

  • Attend a sleepover – 11 years
  • Walk to school alone – 11 years
  • Have a mobile phone – 12 years
  • Go to the local shop alone – 12 years
  • Use the internet without supervision – 12 years
  • Have a bank account/card – 12 years
  • Stay home alone – 12 years
  • Be responsible for a pet – 12 years
  • Look after a sibling – 13 years
  • Have a social media account – 13 years
  • Use public transport alone – 13 years
  • Wear makeup – 13 years
  • Go into town with friends – 13 years
  • Try alcohol for the first time – 15 years
  • Go on holiday with friends – 16 years

Discover advice for navigating the journey to granting independence.

Deaf children still falling through cracks in Scotland two years on from damning report

Deaf children across Scotland are still falling through the cracks and missing out on vital support despite two years passing since a damning report laid bare the inadequacies of NHS Scotland’s audiology services, the National Deaf Children’s Society is warning.

Today marks two years to the day that the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland (IRASS), identified “multiple systemic problems” in NHS Scotland’s hearing services for both children and adults.

The most urgent recommendations were around the quality of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, carried out to identify deafness in very young children. Issues were identified in the quality of ABR testing at every single health board across Scotland. This is particularly concerning for young children, where delays or inaccuracies in testing can have lifelong impacts.

Other issues flagged by IRASS were audiology services facing barriers with recruiting new staff and addressing long waiting times.

Information obtained by the National Deaf Children’s Society reveals waiting times to be referred to audiology services in Scotland are unacceptably long. In some cases, children who should be seen within 42 days were waiting up to 600 days, posing a serious risk to early identification and intervention. 

One mother shared with the National Deaf Children’s Society the “heartbreaking” impact that her son’s unidentified deafness, coupled with a lack of support and intervention, has had on their family.  

Melanie Wright suspected her son Dawson was deaf when he was six, despite him having recently had a hearing test, which revealed no deafness. Dawson, from Dunbar, East Lothian, then had to wait three years before his deafness was finally identified, aged nine, despite Melanie’s repeated calls for a follow-up hearing test. 

Dawson’s family were told he required grommets surgery but there would be a two-year wait unless they paid to go privately, which was not an option.

Melanie recalled how exhausting it was for Dawson to keep up with conversations at home and his frustration when he couldn’t join in. 

At school, Dawson missed key parts of lessons because he could not hear what was said, which made learning harder and knocked his confidence. 

Melanie said: “It’s heartbreaking watching your child work twice as hard just to keep up, knowing it didn’t have to be this way.” 

Dawson’s deafness also impacted on friendships, and he often felt excluded.

When the Scottish Government committed to accept all the IRASS recommendations in December 2023, it was hoped there would be a root and branch reform of Scotland’s struggling audiology services.  

But progress has been painfully slow, and despite the Scottish Government previously pledging to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are “front and centre” these individuals have since been sidelined, as have deaf charities, despite their direct experience on the frontline.

Melanie continued: “This isn’t about special treatment, it’s about making sure children get the care and support they were promised, when they need it.

“This delay is costing children their education, their confidence, and their future — and no one is taking responsibility. 

“I’m exhausted and totally broken by the experience.”

A coalition of charities, spearheaded by the National Deaf Children’s Society, has written an open letter to Scotland’s Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto MSP, expressing concern at the lack of progress made by the Scottish Government since the publication of IRASS. 

The charities warn the Minister that delayed hearing tests and inadequate care means that countless other babies and young children, like Dawson, will have unidentified deafness and lack support during this crucial period of their life. This can “severely impact a child’s ability to acquire language – whether spoken, signed or a combination of both”, the letter reads. 

IRASS also found an absence of national leadership, strategic planning and workforce planning at audiology departments across Scotland and that there has been no quality assurance of services in recent years. 

In their letter to the Minister the charities express their disappointment that action taken by the Scottish Government since the publication of IRASS is “yet to deliver the transformative change so urgently needed” while other recommendations “remain partially or completely incomplete”.

The charities urge the Minister to “equip audiology services with the resources, workforce, and leadership necessary to deliver the best possible outcomes for deaf children and adults”.

The Minister is warned by the charities that without “more ambitious and decisive action…we fear the current system will continue to fall short”.

The charities urge action in three key areas:

  1. Evidence of independent safety checks. 
  2. Clear accountability for workforce planning. 
  3. Transparent reporting on waiting times.

“When every moment counts, it is time for action – not words” the letter to the Minster concludes.

IRASS was commissioned after significant failures were uncovered at NHS Lothian involving more than 150 children over nine years. Some children suffered life-changing consequences, including developmental delays in their communication, learning and social skills.

This was because their deafness was identified too late for them to receive cochlear implant surgery, or the communications support they needed. 

The open letter to Scotland’s Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto MSP  is signed by: The National Deaf Children’s Society, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) and the  British Acadamy of Audiology (BAA).

Local children with disabilities excluded from play due to inaccessible playgrounds

  • Across the UK, half of parents of children with physical disabilities surveyed say their child is excluded from play due to inaccessible playgrounds
  • As well as reducing friendships and confidence, parents are turning to screentime to fill the gap
  • To support parents and children, Scottish housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes is committing to ensure every play area they create is inclusive and accessible

New research reveals children with disabilities are excluded from playgrounds in Scotland. Across the UK, half (50%) of parents of children with physical disabilities surveyed say their child is excluded from play due to playgrounds being inaccessible to them.

In Scotland, parents of children who visit playgrounds are travelling an average of 3.77 miles from their homes to reach a suitable play area. As a result, 32% say they are relying more on screens because there are not enough suitable outdoor play areas nearby.

The research of over 2,000 parents from across the UK, showed that exclusion from play is an issue for disabled and non-disabled children alike. Almost two thirds (65%) of UK parents surveyed say their children are playing out less than they did at the same age, with similar findings reported in Scotland (64%). 

Almost a quarter of parents in Scotland have struggled to find a playground that accommodates their child’s needs (23%), while others reported that their local playground is currently closed or out of order (36%).

Parents say the lack of play is negatively affecting their child’s ability to make friendships, build confidence and develop a sense of adventure, and shockingly over a third (37%) of children in Scotland now prefer to spend time playing indoors or on screens, creating barriers for children accessing outdoor play.

To get the nation playing out again, Barratt Redrow, of which Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland is a part, is making a landmark commitment to prioritise inclusive play spaces across its developments.

This new commitment will see the housebuilder incorporate inclusive and accessible play areas across their new developments in Scotland, working with children and young people to design play spaces that meet the needs of the local community where possible. As the UK’s largest housebuilder this could deliver up to 100 new accessible and inclusive play spaces for parents and children to enjoy each year.

David Thomas, CEO of Barratt Redrow, said: “This isn’t just about playgrounds, it’s about building places where families can truly thrive, and that starts by ensuring every child can safely and confidently enjoy the freedom, fun and benefits that outdoor play delivers.

“We want local authorities and other homebuilders to work together to make inclusive and accessible play the standard, not the exception. When we build with all children in mind, we can create places that work better for everyone.”

Alison Condie, Regional Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland, said: “Play isn’t a luxury, it’s something that inspires connection, confidence and childhood itself.

“This commitment will make a huge difference to parents and children in Scotland. We want parents and homebuyers to know that when they buy one of our homes, they can be confident that we’re prioritising the right things from day one.”

The New Commitments to Play

As the UK’s biggest housebuilder, Barratt Redrow is ensuring play for everybody is the standard, not the exception. In practice, its new Inclusive Play Guidance will mean communities in Scotland can expect:

1.     Every play space being designed by Barratt Redrow will include inclusive equipment, accessible surfaces and be located in safe and easy to access locations for the whole community to enjoy.

2.     Designs will allow for active, challenging, imaginative, sensory and quiet play for children and young people, while encouraging social interaction between neighbours and friends.

3.     Play spaces will be integrated into high quality landscapes at the heart of our developments, bringing people closer to nature.    

4.     Wherever possible, Barratt Redrow will work with children and young people to ensure they are continually responding to the needs of the local community.

*Our teams work on planning applications for a period of six months before submission, therefore the new commitment will apply to all new planning applications from January 2026 onwards.

As well as children’s charity Whizz Kidz, the Barratt Redrow Commitments and New Design Guidelines were created with support from industry bodies, including Play Wales, Play England, play expert Tim Gill and children’s psychologist Prof. Helen Dodd. 

For more information, visit www.barrattredrow.co.uk/playmaking

Jet2.com announces children under 2 will travel for free

Leading leisure airline Jet2.com has further strengthened its family-friendly offer, by announcing that children under 2 will now travel for FREE.

The announcement means that Jet2.com is the only UK airline to not charge a fee for children under 2 to travel to destinations across Europe, the Canaries and the Mediterranean.

This new policy applies to all new bookings made from today (Friday 22nd August 2025), and children must be under 2 at the time of travel for it to apply.

With children under 2 already going free when they travel with Jet2holidays, this now means that all under 2’s travel free with Jet2 – whether on a package holiday with Jet2holidays or on a seat-only flight with Jet2.com.

In addition, Jet2.com has introduced a new family-friendly change to its child and infant equipment allowance, meaning that no excess baggage will be charged for child or infant equipment being checked into the hold. This policy is effective immediately.

Alongside an extra 10kg baggage allowance for children under 2[i], customers can bring up to two items per child under 2 free of charge to be checked into the hold.

These can include a collapsible pushchair, pram or buggy, car seat or booster seat, baby carrier, or travel cot and the 10kg weight limitation no longer applies to these items.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “As a family friendly airline and tour operator, we are always looking at how we can make the experience even better for families travelling with us.

“By putting our customers first and making these changes, meaning that all children under 2 now travel for free whether on a package holiday or a seat-only flight, we are making travel even more accessible for millions of families.”  

To take advantage of these fantastic savings, visit:

 www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com.

Something for everyone at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

WEEKLY PROGRAMME AT DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

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Check out our action packed sessions currently on offer at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre!

Many sessions are free and other classes are a two or three quid.

If you have any queries, email coordinator@drylawnc.org.uk.

Remember we also have the Community Larder, Mon, Weds, Fri 10-11 each week.

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AND DON’T FORGET …

PYCP Autumn Programme

👀 Have a good look at our new programme below! We are so ready to welcome everyone back NEXT WEEK!

Please look carefully as some of our age groups have changed and we want you to come along to the right one! 😎

Children/Young people MUST have a new completed consent form to come along, any done before or during the summer holidays don’t count! Please follow this link to fill them in ⬇️

https://app.upshot.org.uk/signup/301f3ae8/f55ef57de02572ae

Dobbies spellbinding line-up of Autumnal events at Edinburgh

Activities for kids, families … and dogs!

This October and November, Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting customers along to its enchanting autumn events at the Edinburgh store, helping kick-start the season.

There’s something for everyone, with events for dogs, kids and families:

Pup-kin Patch

The Pup-kin Patch at Dobbies will be a fun outing for dogs where they can dig into treats, toys, and tail wagging fun. With activities from picking their own autumn themed toys, to enjoying a puppuccino from the restaurant, furry friends are bound to have a paw-esome outing. The event will also have a free digital photo opportunity for dogs to pose in front of an autumnal backdrop at the Edinburgh store, for a beautiful pet ‘paw-trait’.

Tickets to the event will also include special offers in the pet department, one free hot drink and puppuccino with the purchase of any cake from the restaurant, and £5 off £25 spend in store. Dobbies’ Pup-kin Patch will be taking place on Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £12.50 per dog. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking. 

Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats 

This Halloween, children and families can get ready to take part in some scarily fun activities and afternoon tea at the Edinburgh store Little Scare-lings event. There will be three tiers of savoury sandwiches and sweet treats for the children and spook-tacular tea and cake offers or afternoon tea add ons for adults.

Little ones will get to take part in slime and magic potion making to embrace their inner witches and wizards, alongside other magical activities and games. Dobbies is encouraging attendees to dress up in their spookiest costume as a prize will be awarded during a costume contest. 

The Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats is taking place on Saturday 18, Sunday 19, Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £15 per children and from £7.50 for adults. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is looking forward to welcoming customers, from families, dogs and planting enthusiasts, to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this autumn. She said: “It’s fantastic to have such a variety of events on offer and there really is something for everyone to enjoy, with fun for all ages. 

“Our Little Scare-lings event is a firm favourite for families, with plenty of action-packed activities, and the Pup-kin Patch is back by popular demand, this year in more stores after it was such a hit last year. We can’t wait to celebrate autumn and Halloween with our customers this spooky season.”

Tickets to all autumn events at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store are now available to book at www.dobbies.com/events.

For more information on Dobbies’ events, visit www.dobbies.com/events

Scottish Book Trust celebrates 10 years of Read Write Count

Scottish Book Trust celebrates 10 years of Read Write Count book gifting with Edinburgh International Book Festival

National charity Scottish Book Trust has partnered with the Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) to host a special free event for 300 school children to celebrate 10 years of Read Write Count, on Wednesday 20 August.

Read Write Count with the First Minister is a universal national book gifting programme for pupils in Primary 2 and 3 all over Scotland. Since 2015 over 2.5 million books have been gifted to children.

The book Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton was in the very first Read Write Count bag in 2015. The writer and illustrator duo will now host a special event at EIBF tomorrow at 11am. 300 school children will attend the free event with hundreds more watching on live stream across Scotland.

Research by Scottish Book Trust revealed that 85% of parents said that Read Write Count bags helped them to engage better with their children’s learning, while 90% of schools felt that gifting the bags had made a positive impact to their relationship with families.

One parent of brother Ollie, who received the first Read Write Count bag in 2015, and younger sister Elia, who will receive her own bag this year in Primary 2, commented: “We have always loved getting our Bookbug bags so when Ollie got his drawstring Read Write Count bag we were chuffed to have new books and games to use as a family!

“Now Elia will get her own P2 bag this year – we can’t wait!”

First Minister John Swinney said: “Books have the power to open our imagination to new worlds, which makes introducing reading from a young age so vitally important. We also know that nurturing positive relationships with reading supports improved wellbeing and attainment for children.

“Over the past ten years, the Read Write Count programme has played a vital role in supporting more children to access and take joy in reading, and it is more important than ever to recognise and celebrate this incredible milestone.”

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “It is wonderful to mark the milestone and legacy of ten years of Read Write Count.

“Gifting books to children to enjoy with their families and carers is vital, helping to give them not only the best start in life but the lasting benefits that comes with having books at home.”

The event will also launch the books and contents of the 2025 Read Write Count bag, which will be distributed through schools during Book Week Scotland in November. Read Write Count with the First Minister is funded by Scottish Government.