News

11 December 2008

Public policy and investment are crucial to better lives for young children

Children in Scotland applauds UNICEF’s Report Card 8: The Childcare Transition released today. It makes a compelling case for the UK and Scottish Governments to invest far more in a universal system of early years services and family support.

The fundamental message from the Innocenti Centre’s Report Card 8 is that governmental policy, practice and investment  do matter in giving babies and young children the best possible chance of experiencing happy, healthy childhoods. Trying to make up later for what was missing early in children’s lives has proven to be much less effective and much more expensive in all countries studied.

Click here to read the full press release

5 December 2008

We must embrace and develop young children’s innate creativity

The rigidity of conventional society, and failure to embrace and develop very young children’s innate creativity will stifle innovation, a conference has heard.

Speaking at Children in Scotland’s conference ‘Picture this…’ at the Glasgow Science Centre today, Emeritus Professor Colwyn Trevarthen, said: “The conventional system in which we live is very rigid, and we lose spontaneity. That is a problem in all cultures. In Japan for example, where many children are brought up with rigid discipline, there is a lack of creativity in business. We are losing out by becoming too big, run by technology and commerce.

Click here to read the full press release

2 December 2008

Views of parents and pupils reflected in ASL report

A new report by Children in Scotland on additional support for learning in North Ayrshire reflects the views and experiences of more than 1,200 children, young people and their parents/carers across this local authority area. 

North Ayrshire Council’s Educational Services commissioned Children in Scotland to independently consult with the intended beneficiaries of Scotland’s landmark Additional Support for Learning Act, now starting its fourth year of implementation. 

Over a six-month period during the last school year, Children in Scotland’s four-person research team used a variety of methods to find out what the consumers of additional support for learning services think and recommend.

To download a copy of the full report, click here

19 November 2008

Help shape the future of Scotland's children's sector workforce

Children in Scotland is inviting the
children's sector workforce, with employers, planners, universities,
colleges and other stakeholders to join us in debate about future
workforce development.

The debate cuts right across education, childcare, health, social work
and the many other groups who work with and for children.

A series of four newsletters, three seminars across Scotland and a
major conference in Glasgow on 4 March will explore people's views and
ideas on the issue.

Click here to read the first newsletter and find out more about the programme

29 October 2008

A new profession is needed to work with children in a holistic way in early years services across Europe, according to the new issue of Children in Europe magazine, published today.

The magazine, titled Aiming High: A Professional Workforce for the Early Years, offers a snapshot of how the early years workforce operates across Europe, looks at how the distinction between teaching and care could be broken down, and provides insights into the role the EU could play in developing better services.

Read the full press release here

Annual Report 2007/08

The Children in Scotland Annual Report is available to read online. Click here to find out more about what we do.

New publications

Available now

Young Children in Charge

Based on a 2008 study visit to San Miniato, where powerful values such as a belief in the competence of the child and the centrality of family participation drive every aspect of service delivery for the under threes.

Purchase now

Adventures in Nature

Focuses on a fascinating and inspirational

Italian project that uses the local natural environment to develop young children’s sense of independence, confidence and self-esteem.

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Working it out: developing the children's sector workforce

A revealing birds-eye view of Scotland's children's sector workforce, with analysis of its composition and how reform is required for it to operate as a single system, with the child firmly at its centre.

Purchase now