This Nutshell explains what STEM is and why STEM skills are important.

STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects give all young people important skills for their future lives and work. Employers are looking for young people with these skills, but there’s a big shortage.

How we, as parents, talk about these subjects is very important as it can make all the difference in encouraging our children to believe in their ability to understand and enjoy STEM subjects.

This Nutshell was created in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

When it comes to thinking about options, parents have a big influence on what our children choose to do. It’s important to help our young people take the long view when it comes to making decisions. It’s not just about now; it’s also about what’s up ahead and makes most sense based on the future job market.

This Nutshell explains how you can support your child in their learning journey, through the senior phase and onto college, apprenticeships, university or the world of work.

You’ll probably hear teachers use the words ‘wider achievement’. This means everything that children learn from hobbies, interests, volunteering, part-time jobs and so on. The skills they gain from these are important for young people for life, and also for their future college, university and job applications. These skills are valued by employers and are an important part of your child’s learning and development.

This Nutshell explains what wider achievement means so you can support your child at home and understand what’s offered at school.

NPFS are delighted to be launching their ‘Cyber Security Careers’ Nutshell, created in partnership with Skills Development Scotland. Our Nutshell is a starter for you to speak to your young person about options for future work.

• Cyber security is one of the fastest growing industries in Scotland.
• Average salary is £51,200 a year, more than double the Scotland average.
• Fantastic opportunities for everyone: Your child doesn’t need to be a technical whizz to work in cyber security.

The latest nutshell guide from SDS and the National Parent Forum of Scotland looking at Creativity, Enterprise and Employability is now available.

Creativity skills are crucial for young people to improve how they problem solve, have ideas or come up with a new approach to an old issue.

Creativity is also one of the most important qualities employers look for in their future workforce.

This guide will help parents and carers find out about creativity, what it means for their child, its transformative power and how it equips young people for learning life and work.

This is the fourth nutshell guide SDS and the NPFS have joined forces to produce.

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Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to gain skills while working – ‘earning while learning’. They used to be mainly for traditional trades, but this
is definitely no longer the case. Scottish apprenticeships are supported by the Scottish Government and respond to industry to fill skills gaps and create a closer link between education and employers. There’s an incredible variety on offer and many of them are in sectors where there is a real shortage of suitably skilled workers. Employers recognise the benefits  to them of a truly diverse workforce.

Scottish apprenticeships provide flexible, practical opportunities for young people to pursue work-based learning that suits their needs, goals and aspirations, while giving them first-hand experience of the world of work. Whether a young person is still in school or looking at their options once they leave, an apprenticeship could be for them. This guide tells you everything you need to know about apprenticeships so you can help them get on the right path to a bright future.

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Curriculum for Excellence is designed to provide all children and young people with opportunities for developing:

There are various definitions of ‘skills’. Broadly, a skill might be usefully defined as an activity that a learner undertakes, can do again, can apply to different circumstances and can improve over time. Key skills open the door to children’s progress; thinking skills show progression in cognitive development; personal skills include softer skills such as relationship-building as well as employability skills. These are skills that feature in Curriculum for Excellence learning and in wider achievement activities.

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Careers in Digital Technology’  explains why young people should consider a career in digital technology in Scotland.  It looks at what skills are needed and the wealth of opportunity the industry in Scotland offers.  The guide recognises the digital technology industry might be relatively unknown for many parents, and tackles common myths about working in digital tech.

There’s also more on coding and next steps for young people interested in a digital tech career.No Url Found

NPFS has developed a publication for parents which provides a helpful introduction to the new programme of career education starting in the 2015/16 school year.

Career education will deliver key entitlements to all of our children and young people. These will ensure that Scotland’s children acquire the skills and knowledge they need so that they can reach the futures that are right for them. Have a look at our leaflet for further details of how this will work and how parents can support their children.No Url Found

We know that talking to your child about their future career can be tricky. That’s why The National Parent Forum of Scotland has joined forces again with Skills Development Scotland to help parents and carers talk about career decisions with their children.No Url Found