The UWS-Oxfam Partnership would like to invite you to their latest Policy Forum Making Policy Care: Exploring the relationship between care work and poverty When? 21st January 2020 Where? The University of the West of Scotland campus in Paisley. From those working in the paid childcare and health and social care sectors, to parents and […]

New Free E-Learning Resource for Parents of Preterm Children.   Two to three children in an average sized class are likely to have been born preterm. Compared with children born after a full term pregnancy, children born preterm are at increased risk for cognitive, motor, attention, social-emotional problems and additional support needs, and for poor […]

Are you a parent of a young person with asthma? Are they aged between 8-16? Do you live in Edinburgh or Stirling or surrounding areas? Bring them along to two group sessions and help improve a program to improve asthma inhaler use. You will receive a £15 gift voucher for your participation. Your travel expenses […]

Additional Support for Learning Review and January Focus Groups  20th December 2019   Dear All,   We have received a lot of feedback regarding Angela Morgan’s Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Review, and the ASL Focus Groups we at NPFS are hosting in January. We recognise from your feedback that ASL is an understandably sensitive […]

* Register for our upcoming ASL Focus Groups in January 2020 * During our Q&A event, we mentioned that we would be collating parents’ views for the Scottish Govt’s Review of the Implementation of Additional Support for Learning in schools. We are planning two evening focus groups for Parents and Carers. Glasgow – Monday 13th […]

Have you tried the DFM’s Christmas Maths Challenge? 🎅 A great opportunity for Family Learning!   Look out for it in your P4’s schoolbag or click here to have a go.   Good Luck! 🍀 #christmasmaths This year, the Christmas Holiday Challenge is aimed at primary 4 pupils (previously primary 6 pupils). All Primary Schools should […]

MCR Pathways are looking for volunteers! MCR Pathways train and match volunteer mentors with a young person to meet for just one hour a week and provide an encouraging, listening ear. Mentors support their young person to focus in school and build their confidence and aspirations. Parents/Carers, please join mentoring charity MCR Pathways and find […]

The Scottish Learning Disability Awards 2020 are open for nominations! Why not recognise a person or group of people with a learning disability, and celebrate their talents and achievements by nominating them for a Scottish Learning Disability Award? This year there are 8 categories, spanning everything from the creative pursuits to sporting achievement and work […]

Calling all Scottish School Pupils: Do you want to be in with a chance to discuss climate change with the First Minister? The Scottish Government have re-opened two climate change competitions that were originally launched during Climate Week 2019. Enter their Competitions now! 👉 bit.ly/37Hlo5n     Additional Links: Photo Competition for Primary Schools: 👉 […]

Our latest e-newsletter is now available! You can read our December 2019 e-newsletter by clicking here. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the newsletter directly to your email address then subscribe here, or drop us an email at office@npfs.org.uk.

This week is Empowering Parents and Carers Week! It is important to give Parents and Carers a voice when it comes to their child’s Education. When parents are involved in their children’s learning, it benefits children, families and schools: children do better. We asked one of our NPFS Parent Reps to describe what Empowerment means […]

Have you heard of the Empowerment Agenda? Each week of the campaign focuses on a different segment of the Empowerment Jigsaw. This week it’s Parents and Carers and NPFS are leading on this segment of the jigsaw. It is important to give Parents and Carers a voice when it comes to their child’s Education. When […]

Every day across Scotland, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) advisers help people of all ages to take control of their future through their career information, advice and guidance services. The world of work is changing and your career may need to change too. Find out how you can access free support from Scotland’s careers service, delivered […]

Parents – are you up to date with University Admissions? Universities Scotland has published a new guide setting out clearly how universities aim to be fair to those applying to study in Scotland. One of the drivers of this work has been a desire to widen access to more people of underrepresented backgrounds. It’s important […]

Making the CRC30 Matter for Children 🎈 Unicef has recently produced a free toolkit to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (CRC30) The toolkit covers key messages for the celebrations and ideas and inspiration. There are endless activities, activations and initiatives that can be done to acknowledge […]

Parents and Carers, have you heard about the assistance dog charity Dogs for Good and their new Family Dog Service? This service is for Parents and Carers who have a child with autism between the ages of 3 and 16, who are either looking at getting a dog or who want to train their own […]

Are you a young parent who might be interested in being part of BBC’s new project: Tiny Happy People? Tiny Happy People is a new initiative from BBC Education aiming to help young parents (aged 18-34) develop their child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life. Language is the building […]

This Week is #AntiBullyingWeek Bullying can make Children and Young People feel isolated and worthless, scared, lonely and lacking in confidence. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. #ChooseKindness NPFS have teamed up with Parenting Across Scotland to create a joint social media campaign sharing information for Mums, Dads and Carers about bullying. Visit […]

Do you know about Participatory Budgeting? Participatory Budgeting allows people to have a direct say in how local money is spent. In Scotland, community groups & local authorities are using PB to give power to local people.  Effective collaboration requires working together from the very start, before priorities have been decided and throughout the relevant […]

Parents and Carers: Have you got ideas on how to make Out of School Care more accessible and affordable? The Scottish Government are running a Consultation which asks questions about what they can do to support families in accessing high quality, flexible and affordable services which benefit children and parents and carers. They are keen […]

Parents, can you help? The Scottish Government are conducting a review of The Implementation of Additional Support for Learning in Schools. They are looking to engage with parents to identify: – Good Practice and – Areas for Further Improvement in the ways that children and young people with additional support needs progress in their learning. […]

NPFS launches a new resource! Early Learning and Childcare in a Nutshell NPFS is delighted to launch this new publication as part of our “…in a Nutshell” series. Our Nutshells are for parents and carers to help them understand aspects of Scottish Education. This leaflet on Early Learning and Childcare gives an overview of the options […]

The National Parent Forum of Scotland are recruiting for a full-time role! We are looking for a Project & Policy Officer. Please read the information below and download the Job Description. If you have any questions, please email recruitment@childreninscotland.org.uk. Job Advert Post:                        Project and Policy Officer (National Parent Forum of Scotland) Location:               The main office […]

Update: The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill This Bill passed Stage 3 in the Scottish Parliament on the 3rd October 2019. It will now go for Royal Assent to be passed into law. The Bill aims to end the physical punishment of children by parents or carers by removing the legal defence of […]

Do you know about the Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions)(Scotland) Bill? Useful Information about the Bill: – Johann Lamont MSP launched a public consultation on her proposed Member’s Bill on 9th October 2019. – The public consultation on the Bill will run until 22 January 2020. – The Bill has been developed by Johann […]

NEWS RELEASE from Learning through Landscapes about Outdoor Classroom Day: CHILDREN NEED TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT OUTDOORS TO LOVE AND PROTECT IT Research shows that playing and learning outdoors as part of the school day gives children a better understanding of the environment. 4000 schools across the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI) will take […]

In response to campaigns from the Third Sector across Scotland, plans for the new Scottish Child Payment have been brought forward.   Low income families will be able to apply for a new £10 a week payment for every child aged 0-6 for applications in autumn 2020, with the first payments reaching families by Christmas. […]

This week is #ChallengePovertyWeek .   NPFS are proud to be supporting Challenge Poverty Week (7-13 October) because we want a more equal society where children and families are no longer in the grip of poverty.   Challenge Poverty Week is a chance for us to come together and look at the kind of society we want […]

Parents, make sure that you are up to date with the upcoming changes to all food and drink offered in schools. What is happening? Schools in Scotland have a legal duty to provide food and drink in schools which meets strict nutritional standards. The regulations help ensure that young people get the balance of nutrients […]

Parents, can you help? The Scottish Government are conducting a review of The Implementation of Additional Support for Learning in Schools. They are looking to engage with parents to identify: – Good Practice and – Areas for Further Improvement in the ways that children and young people with additional support needs progress in their learning. […]

Are you going to the #ScottishLearningFestival? Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th September.   **Thursday 26th September, 13:15 – 14:00* Come to NPFS’s Seminar on “Parents as True Partners” (Code:M4I) Joanna discusses Empowering the Learning Community & Engaging them in School Improvement. 2019 is going to be a huge year for School Empowerment.   Look out […]

The Scottish Government has launched its Out Of School Care Consultation. They want to find out what Mums, Dads, Carers and Practitioners think about childcare after school and during the holidays. The consultation asks questions about what the Scottish Government can do to better support families in accessing high quality, flexible and affordable services which […]

New Resource: The Compassionate and Connected Classroom School children are being helped to cope with the effects of adversity and trauma through a new resource looking at developing their confidence, resilience, compassion and empathy. HM Chief Inspector Gayle Gorman, who launched the resource, said: “Trauma and adversity can both have a major impact on children’s […]

A new life-changing website offering every family in Stirling (with no income checks) Free and Easy Access to Preloved School Uniform is Live! 👕👖 Congratulations to Stirling Council and all those involved for this fantastic initiative. Stirling Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to host such an online shop, which offers an […]

Did you know that any child still aged 4 at the school commencement date in Scotland has a legal right to defer their P1 start until the following year? (mid-Aug to 31 Dec borns and not just Jan and Feb borns)? Parents/Carers in Scotland have a legal right to defer such children, but the funding […]

Parents, we want to hear from you! Do you have any good examples involving parents in school libraries? 📖 e.g. Parent Volunteers doing paired reading with the children e.g. Parent Volunteers helping to tidy up the library or sort the returns We are looking to collect good examples of Parental Involvement. 📚 If you do, […]

Our latest e-newsletter is now available! You can read our September 2019 e-newsletter by clicking here. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the newsletter directly to your email address then subscribe here, or drop us an email at office@npfs.org.uk.

Parents and Carers What do you think of Skills Development Scotland’s Careers & Skills Services in schools, centres and online? Have your say now. SDS want to hear what parents and carers think of their services to support the continuous improvement of its services. Their survey will look at the ways they reach out to […]

Today is #Playday2019 The Celebration of Children’s Right to Play, highlighting the importance of play in children’s lives. #Playday is the UK’s national day for PLAY. Thousands of families get out to play at hundreds of community events across the UK. From small-scale community events to thousands of children taking part in events organised in […]

Today is…. Results Day 2019! Best of Luck to all Learners (and Parents too)! Read our “Everything You Need To Know About Results Day” website post for lots of information for your child after they receive their results. It will help you make decisions about the next steps of their Learner Journey. GOOD LUCK!

Are your children waiting for their Exam Results? There are lots of ways in which you can support them. Below is some guidance from organisations to signpost you in the right direction and to help them make the next steps in their Learner Journey.   Skills Development Scotland (SDS) –> Exam Results Helpline * Over the […]

Exam results? Don’t panic, you have options. If you want to talk to someone about your #ExamResults, the team at Skills Development Scotland (SDS) can help. Thousands of young people can access dedicated exam results support when Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) Exam Results Helpline opens on Tuesday 6 August. The helpline from Scotland’s careers service […]

In the lead up to results day on 6th August, we’re sharing young people’s stories in Scotland through the #MyLearnerJourney Communications Campaign. #MyLearnerJourney showcases and celebrates young people’s achievements across a diverse range of awards, qualifications, learning pathways and progression routes and not just those certificated on Results Day. Success isn’t all about exams and […]

In line with the Programme for Government 2018-19 commitment, the Scottish Government has launched a consultation to look at how a new Act could incorporate the United Nation Children’s Rights Convention into the law of Scotland. 👉 Click here for more details and to submit responses   The closing date is 28th August 2019. The […]

Have you heard of Resolve: ASL Mediation Service? It is the largest mediation provider in Scotland. Their latest newsletter is out now. It features an interview with Resolve mediator, Pauline Linn, and an update on their ‘Steps to Success’ guide. 👉 Click here to read their newsletter. +Their service is free for parents / carers and […]

Parenting isn’t always easy. Although it’s often amazing and rewarding to watch your children grow, and to help them learn to be independent, it can also be really hard work. If you’re struggling to cope take a look at Young Mind’s Parents’ Survival Guide here. If you think your child is unhappy or if you […]

What’s Going On Now? (WGON) is a study of young people learning and making music across scotland: * Offering an assessment of music education and youth music-making * Proposing recommendations to tackle the inequalities in music education * Proposing ways to facilitate new experiences and opportunities * Making recommendations for the future * Updating the […]

Education Scotland’s “Empowerment for Parent and Pupil Participation.” From March to May 2019, HM Inspectors of Education visited 45 schools in 32 local authorities to see how schools were engaging parents and pupils in the life and work of the school. It provides robust evidence of parents and pupils working collaboratively with education staff across […]

Aye for Ideas is a call to action – explore ideas, question ideas, discuss ideas. We want to support everyone in Scotland to think differently, to discover the world around them through STEM activity and develop a nation of curious minds. #STEMStrategyScotland Aye for Ideas gives everyone a voice to put STEM at the forefront […]

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. Our Creativity in a Nutshell helps parents find out about what Creativity means […]

Education Scotland launches “I’m an Engineer!” A fun resource for families to learn about and to engage in STEM activities using the world around them. The workbook is split into sections depending on the age and stage of children. Have fun and try some of the STEM activities and challenges as a family. Examples of activities […]

“It’s one of your rights to know your rights!” As part of the public consultation on the Action Plan for Progressing Children’s Rights in Scotland: 2018-2021, Children’s Parliament undertook a consultation to explore children’s views on how children’s human rights are experienced here in Scotland. The Scottish Government will soon be committed to incorporating the […]

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) deliver Scotland’s Career Service. They provide both face-to-face and online support to individuals of all ages in developing their career management and employability skills. They help Scotland’s future workforce to be equipped with the knowledge and expertise to flourish in the ever-changing labour market. Young ones achieving their potential relies on […]

Family Learning is so important for Parental Involvement, Parental Engagement and Improving your child’s attainment outcomes. Why not encourage your children to have a go at the Summer Maths Challenge? The Scottish Women’s National Football Team are this year’s theme after they reached their first World Cup. Have a go by clicking here. Good Luck!

Transitions for Armed Forces Families –> New Nutshell Launched! In conjunction with Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES). It aims to help make the transition to Scotland as easy as possible. Moving around is a way of life for many Armed Forces families. It can often be exciting, but sometimes it can be […]

Learning for sustainability is about the entire school community working together to build a fair and equitable society that lives within the environmental limits of our planet. A few examples of Learning for Sustainability that you may have heard your child mention are : Global citizenship Engaging with democracy Fair Trade Outdoor learning Children’s Rights […]

The Disclosure (Scotland) Bill has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The Bill sets out proposals to modernise and improve the state disclosure system in Scotland. Many headteachers did not seem to have a good understanding of the system, or confidence in their decisions. As a consequence, parents often wrongly face PVG checks when volunteering […]

Today we are delighted to launch three new nutshell leaflets helping parents understand aspects of Scottish Education. You can take a look by clicking the images below. Let us know if you’d like any hard copies for yourself or your school.

Outdoor Play and Learning is so important for our children. This generation of Children spend on average four hours outside a week – that is half the time of their parent’s generation. 2 in 3 Children Play Outside for less than 1.5hr/day (that’s less than 2hr guideline for prisoners in the US!) As parents, you […]

This week is Child Safety Week! #childsafetyweek aims to raise awareness of the risks of child accidents and how they can be prevented. This year’s theme is #familylifetoday: where’s the risk? This theme aims to highlight the new dangers facing families today from our modern lifestyles. There are simple solutions to keep children safe. Unintentional injury is […]

NPFS would like to take this opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU to our Volunteer Reps for their fantastic hard work. Together, we are empowering parents to fulfil their potential as Partners in Education and are helping every child in Scotland to achieve their best educational outcome.

Our latest e-newsletter is now available! You can read our June 2019 e-newsletter by clicking here. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the newsletter directly to your email address then subscribe here, or drop us an email at office@npfs.org.uk.  

The Scottish Government have launched their Consultation on Incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into our Domestic Law in Scotland. The Scottish Government want to hear your views on whether to incorporate UNCRC principles into Scottish Law by 14th August 2019. At NPFS we are committed to helping every […]

Thursday 23rd May is #OutdoorClassroomDay Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign to inspire and celebrate outdoor learning and play. Schools are encouraged to take lessons outside and prioritise playtime. In 2018 over 3.5 million children across the world got outdoors to play and learn as part of their school day. Make sure that you […]

NPFS have written their response to the recent Parliamentary Inquiry into the STEM experiences of 3 to 7 year olds in Early Learning and Childcare Settings and Schools. NPFS is a member of the STEM National Advisory Group, Making Maths Count Expert Group and the Interdisciplinary Learning National Strategic Group. We believe it is vital […]

NPFS contributed to the review of Personal and Social Education. One recommendation was to ensure Consent Education is Age and Stage Appropriate. Today the Scottish Government published a new National Resource: ‘Key Messages for Young People on Healthy Relationships and Consent’. The document is part of the Scottish Government’s work on supporting positive relationships and […]

It’s National Digital Learning Week 2019! #NDLW19 Over 80,000 people already work in the Digital Technical Industry in Scotland, but this industry is constantly thriving and growing. Your son or daughter could be a part of it too! This week there are 5 curriculum focused challenges for your young ones to try: Social Studies, Expressive […]

This week is Learning Disability week! #LDWeek2019 The theme this year is ‘Community:Active, Connected, Included’ Make sure that as parents you are involved in your School Community. Parental Engagement raises Child Attainment. During Learning Disability Week we would like to remind all schools how to support parents with learning disabilities themselves, or parents of children […]

Each year, ‘Together’ publish the State of Children’s Rights in Scotland Report. This Report monitors the implementation in Scotland of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The aim is to incorporate UNCRC principles into Domestic Law. The Article from the 2018 State of Children’s Rights Report has been published. NPFS […]

The Scottish Government have published a review which summarises the predicted trends that will shape the lives of young people over the next decade. View it here: https://bit.ly/2FMZbFK See Section 5 for current trends in education in Scotland as well as future trends. The current trends highlight attainment changes, while the future trends highlight how digital […]

Children in Scotland’s 25 Calls Campaign, to Change Children’s Lives for the Better, celebrates their 25th anniversary. 25 Calls is a plan of action which will contribute to children rights and ensure that children experience equality in the future. 25 Calls sets out to achieve real change. View Children in Scotlands 25 Calls website here. Call 10: […]

NPFS are delighted to be sponsoring the “Parents as Partners in Learning” category at the annual Scottish Education Awards. NPFS would like to say a massive congratulations to this year’s three finalists: – Larbert High School, Falkirk – St Albert’s Primary School, Glasgow – Craigton Primary School, Glasgow We are very much looking forward to meeting […]

Numbers are so important in everyone’s lives. They are all around us. We use them every day: Cooking Shopping and working out whether supermarket deals are really worth it Splitting the bill after dinner Paying bills NPFS are proud to be a Champion of National Numeracy Day, the annual celebration of numbers. Numeracy skills in […]

Scotland has a ‘Ten Year Strategy for the Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs.’ The ten-year strategy is running from 2017 to 2026. The ten-year strategy aims to improve outcomes for children and young people with complex additional support needs, with a particular focus on education. The Scottish Government ran […]

NPFS are encouraging families to have a look at this brilliant parental engagement activity. Scotland’s National Centre for Languages (SCILT) is inviting families to share how they learn languages at home. Families are encouraged to create a short video or take photographs to show the whole family learning languages together. Winners of the competition will […]

Our latest e-newsletter is now available! You can read our April 2019 e-newsletter by clicking here. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the newsletter directly to your email address then subscribe here, or drop us an email at office@npfs.org.uk.  

This week is #CyberScotWeek19! To coincide with this week, 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. To read it click here. • Cyber security is one […]

The Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee have launched an inquiry into the experiences of 3 to 7 year olds of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Their inquiry will explore the extent to which STEM subjects are included at schools for those aged 3-7, whether teachers have the skills to teach STEM subjects and the successes […]

Everyone at NPFS would like to wish all children sitting their external examinations the best of luck. The SQA Exam Timetable can be found here. We would also recommend you to encourage your children to use the SQA Personal Timetable Builder to create their personalised exam timetable. Click here to check it out. Have a look at […]

Are you looking for something fun but educational to keep your child occupied this Easter Holiday? Why not try The Deputy First Minister’s Easter Holiday Maths Challenge! You can give his quiz a go by clicking here. Primary school pupils should have received them in school, but if you missed it, then hard copies are available […]

The Scottish Government’s Out To Play Guide has been launched. It includes guidance for setting up outdoor spaces for children to play. Outdoor Learning has huge benefits for children’s health and wellbeing and can be responsible for boosting academic attainment. Article 31 of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child states that all […]

This helpful new video from SCQF, made with the help of staff and students at Ayrshire College, highlights how Qualifications undertaken whilst at school have changed over the past few years, with Vocational qualifications such as National Progression Awards (NPAs) and Foundation Apprenticeships sitting on the SCQF alongside traditional Nationals and Highers. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/ucA6q5zEkdk