A campaign encouraging parents and carers to include reading, writing and numeracy in everyday activities has been expanded to children in Primaries 4 to 7. Read, Write, Count kits containing books, writing materials and numeracy resources such as dice and playing cards will be distributed to older pupils in 96 primary schools across Scotland this autumn. Continue reading Read, Write, Count programme to be expanded
Seizing the opportunities of the low carbon revolution, investing in future economic growth and improving the lives of all our young people will be central to the Scottish Government’s Programme for the coming year, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday. Continue reading Scottish Government goes green
Scottish Government to ‘refocus and refresh’
Holyrood’s back, and later this week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will unveil her ‘most ambitious Programme for Government yet’, focused around a ‘bold agenda to strengthen and modernise the economy’. The programme will be announced following months of accusations that the government has run out of ideas and has been fixated for too long on a second independence referendum. Continue reading Scottish government: getting back to the day job?
Around 50,000 visitors will have a “once in a lifetime experience” as they walk across the new 1.7-mile Queensferry Crossing this weekend. Continue reading Queensferry Crossing: the celebrations begin
The Edinburgh Festivals will receive a £10 million boost over the next five years, the First Minister has confirmed. The Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council will each provide £5 million to fund a new programme to grow the festivals’ contribution to Scotland’s culture and economy – and the Edinburgh Festivals have pledged to raise a further £5 million towards the programme. Continue reading Know your PLaCE: Scottish government doubles festivals pot
The Scottish Government has written to schools, nurseries, colleges and universities urging them to help Scotland become the first Daily Mile Nation. Around 800 Scottish primary schools currently take part in the initiative, which encourages people to walk, jog or run a mile every day. It is now being rolled out beyond the school sector.
The Daily Mile is a simple but effective concept through which primary-aged children run or walk for 15 minutes every day. Any primary school can implement The Daily Mile at no cost, and its impact can be transformational – improving not only the children’s fitness, but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing. Since beginning at St Ninians Primary, Stirling, in 2012, The Daily Mile has grown exponentially, with over 3,000 participating schools, and over half a million children taking part daily.
Yesterday the Education Secretary, Sports Minister and Chief Medical Officer joined pupils at St Ninian’s Primary School in Stirling for a Daily Mile with a difference, as it crossed paths with the Queen’s Baton Relay.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education, John Swinney said: “I’m delighted to be back at St Ninian’s Primary School, where the Daily Mile began back in 2012, to encourage every school in Scotland to take part and fulfil our ambition of being the first Daily Mile nation.
“We have written to headteachers, heads of early years establishments and principals of further and higher education institutions to highlight the benefits of the Daily Mile, not just to physical and mental health but to raising attainment levels and improving relationships between pupils and teaching staff.”
Minister for Public Health and Sport, Aileen Campbell said: “This simple and effective concept can help us to reduce health inequalities and to reduce the impact on our NHS.
“It’s brilliant to see the children here doing their Daily Mile with the Queen’s Baton, and I hope the run up to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games – as well as the Glasgow 2018 European Championships – will inspire them to try out different sports and activities.”
Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood said: “We know that physical activity is so important for children’s development. The UK Chief Medical Officers’ Guidelines recommend at least three hours of activity a day from birth to five years; and at least 60 minutes a day for five to 18-year-olds.
“Active children are healthy, happy, ready to learn and they sleep better.”
Convener of Stirling Council’s Education Committee Susan McGill said: “The Daily Mile, introduced in St Ninians Primary in Stirling, is a powerful tool to improve children’s fitness and I am proud that our schools led the way in improving children’s health.
“The Queen’s Baton Relay is an iconic symbol of the Commonwealth Games and the involvement of St Ninians pupils will inspire pride in the local community and across the region.”
Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman met local councils yesterday to discuss the practical steps needed to encourage more people to claim the financial support they are entitled to. It is estimated that in 2014/15, for tax credits and the main income-related benefits, there could be over 500,000 cases of individuals or families in Scotland not claiming benefits they were entitled to.
The round-table in Edinburgh was also attended by Alex Rowley MSP and Cllr Kelly Parry, Community Wellbeing Spokesperson for local authority umbrella group COSLA.
Ms Freeman said: “Social Security is a human right. That is the foundation for the social security system we are building for Scotland and making sure that everyone gets the financial support they are entitled to is one of the first steps towards putting dignity and respect at the heart of social security in Scotland.
“In Scotland today there are still many people on low incomes who are not claiming the benefits that are theirs by right. That might be because they don’t know what they are entitled to, or it could be the system is too complex. Whatever the reasons, we need to understand them and work out how they can be overcome.
“That will take both Scottish and local government working together. Local authorities have important experience in understanding what works at a local level. So it makes complete sense to work together on a coordinated approach that nationally and locally, actively encourages benefits take up. I am grateful to Alex Rowley MSP for his work and his support in, highlighting the critical issue of making sure people receive the support to which they are entitled.”
Councillor Kelly Parry COSLA spokesperson for Communities added: “Ensuring everyone in Scotland claims the support they are entitled to is something councils and our local partners have been involved in for many years.
“Councils expertise and local knowledge has played a huge part in efforts to maximise incomes for Communities across the country. Collaborative working, and sustained joint effort, will make a real difference to people all across Scotland.”
Through the Scotland Act 2016, the following benefits will be devolved to Scotland:
The following benefits will remain reserved to UK Government:
£250,000 to support Scotland’s science festivals
Science festivals will receive £250,000 of Scottish Government funding to support them in bringing science alive in a fun and accessible way, Science Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville has announced. Continue reading More funding for science festivals
New Forth Bridges website goes live
With the countdown underway for the Queensferry Crossing opening, a new website for the Forth Bridges has been launched by the Minister for Transport Humza Yousaf. Continue reading One stop shop for Forth bridges
Social Security: What’s the point?
With just over a week until the consultation deadline on the Social Security (Scotland) Bill, the Poverty Alliance has written to its members and civil society organisations across Scotland urging them to make sure their voices are heard. Continue reading Have your say on Social Security Bill, urges Poverty Alliance
