Smacking ban moves closer to becoming law in Scotland
A smacking ban in Scotland moved a step closer to becoming law after a majority of MSPs on a Holyrood committee supported the policy.
Children
Children’s Minister calls for more people to consider becoming foster carers
Scotland’s Children’s Minister has called for more people to consider becoming foster carers.
Chair of young people’s mental health taskforce steps down due to illness
The chair of a taskforce looking into how to improve mental health care for children and young people has left the post.
MSPs back new law raising age of criminal responsibility in Scotland to 12
Holyrood has passed legislation which will prevent primary school-age children from being treated as criminals.
‘Nuts can boost baby brain development in the womb’
Children’s brains can be boosted by their mother eating nuts during early pregnancy, a new study claims.
More than 300 Aberdeen families benefit from new baby grant
An Aberdeen politician has applauded new figures which show 305 families in the city have been helped by a Government grant scheme.
Aberdeen uni study aims to shape information given to pregnant women across the UK
A study by an Aberdeen University lecturer is set to influence the information women are given before giving birth across the whole of the NHS.
North-east parents awarded more than £250k to help give newborns best start in life
Parents in the north-east have been awarded more than £250,000 to help with the costs of raising a child, official figures have revealed.
Can you help? Aberdeen mental health centre seeking cash donations to help buy new toys for children
Donations are being sought to help purchase items to make a new mental health centre as child-friendly as possible.
Child abuse survivors given right to apply for £10,000 redress payments
Survivors of childhood abuse in care who are either elderly or terminally ill can now apply for a £10,000 redress payment from the Scottish Government.
Looking for a job in childcare in Aberdeen? This event will help
A roadshow will take place this week to help recruit people for a career in childcare.
Teachers and nurses ‘could face rap’ over youth violence failures
Teachers, nurses and police officers could be held accountable for failing to “spot warning signs” of violent crime among young people, under Government plans announced on Monday.
Adoption and fostering services performing well despite lengthy waits – report
A quarter of children up for adoption in Scotland at the end of 2017 had to wait more than a year to be placed with families, according to the Care Inspectorate.
Smacking ban sends clear message to parents, says Children’s Minister
Holyrood legislating to ban smacking sends a “very clear message” to parents that physical punishment for children is “not acceptable”, a Scottish Government minister has said.
Campaigners against proposed smacking ban to protest outside Parliament
Opponents of a bid to ban smacking in Scotland are to stage a protest outside Holyrood, as the committee considering the bill holds its final evidence session.
Rising number of babies being taken into care, official figures reveal
The number of babies aged less than a year being taken into care has increased by more than a quarter in the last decade, new figures have revealed.
Fall in the number of Scottish children being vaccinated
Childhood immunisation is dropping across Scotland, according to official figures.
Lower speed limit to save lives, Scottish Government urged
The Scottish Government has been urged to lower the speed limit in residential areas to 20mph to save lives.
Scottish Government failing on children’s rights – Rennie
The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader has accused the Scottish Government of “failing” on children’s rights.
Children’s ward to reopen in ‘important milestone’
A children’s hospital ward which has been closed for almost two years is due to reopen to inpatients in what has been described as an “important milestone”.
Hospital set for ‘important milestone’ with reopening of children’s ward
Hospital bosses are preparing for an “important milestone” when a children’s ward that has been shut for almost two years re-opens to inpatients.
Children’s health at risk due to doctor shortage, says report
The health of Scottish children is at risk because of a shortage of paediatric doctors, a new report has warned.
Child domestic abuse witnesses set to give pre-recorded evidence in law change
A planned new law to boost the use of pre-recorded evidence of vulnerable witnesses in criminal trials is likely to be extended to cover child witnesses of domestic abuse.
One in five Scottish children missing out on basic essentials, study shows
One in every five children in Glasgow missed out on basic necessities because of their family’s low income, new figures have revealed.
Child smacking ban would be ‘patronising and elitist’, MSPs told
Criminalising parents who smack their children would be “negative, patronising and elitist”, MSPs have been warned.
Children and gangs: Key questions and help for parents and guardians
Around 27,000 children are thought to be members of a gang in England, according to a major report by the Children’s Commissioner.
Over 1,200 children diagnosed with cancer in a decade, figures show
More than 1,200 children were diagnosed with some form of cancer over a 10 year period in Scotland, statistics have revealed.
Families need more support in early years to give children ‘best possible start’
Families should be given more support during a child’s early years to ensure youngsters are getting the best possible start in life, a committee of MPs has warned.
Therapist to shine light on child mutism in north-east
A speech and language therapist is hoping to raise awareness in Aberdeen about a rare childhood disorder.
Vulnerable children ‘lost in digital space’
Vulnerable children face becoming lost in digital space with a lack of personalised internet safety education on offer suited to their needs, a new report has warned.