Headteachers’ and parents’ organisations have warned against publishing attainment levels for every primary school in Scotland. The criticism comes just weeks before the Scottish government plans to release data (based on teachers’ judgements) for every primary school on how well pupils perform in basic skills, such as reading, writing and numeracy. Ministers believe the policy will improve standards. However, critics argue it will lead to damaging comparisons between schools that serve very different catchment areas.
Councils have been criticised for failing to account for an apparent underspend of £140 million in their childcare budgets. James Dornan, head of the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee, has expressed “concern and frustration” at the failure of local authorities’ umbrella body Cosla to explain the funding gap. A financial analysis of the government’s flagship policy of 600 free hours of childcare reveals that local authorities were given an extra £329 million to fund the scheme. But it finds that they spent or planned to spend just £189 million of this on childcare.
Scotland’s fifth national celebration of books and reading gets underway next week. Working with a wide range of partners, the Scottish Book Trust will deliver activities and events across the country, all rooted in the theme of “discovery”. Every P1 pupil in Scotland will receive three free picture books, and bags of books, writing materials and counting games will be given to all P2 and P3 pupils. The gift bags are being produced in partnership with Education Scotland and the Scottish government as part of the Read, Write, Count initiative. For more information about what’s on, visit www.bookweekscotland.com
Skipping breakfast and irregular sleep patterns have been identified as key reasons for children becoming dangerously overweight in research that sheds new light on the obesity epidemic. The study, led by academics from University College London, challenges the widely held view that soaring childhood obesity rates are caused solely by overeating. It follows the release of figures last month showing that more than one in 10 children in Scotland have started primary school overweight or obese since 2005.
@Emma_Seith
