Convener suspended
The national convener of Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) has been suspended after less than a year in the job. Bernadette Monaghan took up the new post in February to oversee reform of Scotland’s internationally- admired system for dealing with children in trouble or at risk. CHS and the Scottish Government have declined to explain the reasons for her suspension. Kit Wyeth, head of the Government children’s hearings team, has been seconded to CHS as project manager.
Free access to top science
Glasgow’s primary schools are being given free access to the Glasgow Science Centre’s education programme.
The year-long initiative will give more than 35,000 pupils access to various workshops, live science shows and interactive exhibits currently on offer at the centre. Sessions, which also include lessons in the planetarium, are linked to the Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes.
pound;450k boost for Bookbug scheme
The Scottish Book Trust’s Bookbug programme, which provides free books for young children, is to receive an extra pound;450,000 from the Scottish Government, Aileen Campbell, the new Minister for Children and Young People, has announced. This will take total funding for the scheme to pound;1.5 million until 2013. The money will be used to extend the programme across deprived areas and to pilot a new book gifting pack to expectant mothers.
Are toilets going down the pan?
Only 54 per cent of the 107 parents who took part in a survey on school toilet provision, carried out by the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC), thought their child’s school toilets were well maintained. A significant group of parents said that, due to the state of school toilets, their child would not use them. “We even had stories of children not drinking all day, accidents at school and medical conditions being caused as a result,” said the SPTC.
Large effort for Gaelic medium
Headteachers have taken the first step towards creating a national network aimed at supporting Gaelic-medium education in Scotland. The plan won backing from Gaelic sector heads at a seminar in Inverness, the first of two being hosted by Bord na Gaidhlig.
