 What we've been up to
- Planning for the return of the Scottish Parliament at the start of September
Additional Support Needs
Report on reforming Scotland’s additional support for learning system
Children in Scotland has published a briefing report on improving outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs through reforming Scotland’s additional support for learning system. The briefing examines the issues and challenges in the current system and sets out recommendations for the Scottish Government which include system change interventions to facilitate early intervention and identification, enhanced professional development for education staff and development pathways to uptake specialist roles, a review of support planning and decision-making processes in use across Scotland, and a needs-led National Measurement Framework.
Implementing the recommendations of the ASL Review
The Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Education Culture and Gaelic has written to the Convener of the Health, Care and Sport Committee on plans to implement the recommendations of the March 2026 Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Review. The action will be the publication of the National Staged Intervention Model (NSIM) Route Map, which will be published within the first 100 days of Parliament. The Route Map reportedly will set out timelines and a process for implementation of NSIM to aid consistency of support and will also provide a framework for progressing aspects of the wider recommendations from the Additional Support for Learning Review.
Care Experience
Terms of reference for the Residential Childcare Reference Group
The Scottish Government has published the Terms of reference for the Residential Childcare Reference Group, of which the Care Inspectorate is a member. The purpose of the group is to provide advice and guidance to the Scottish Government on key issues affecting Residential Childcare, which includes considering forecasting need, commissioning and workforce requirements, as well as the Promise’s statement that “there is no place for profiting in how Scotland cares for its children”. The group will also oversee the work of relevant working groups to be established to explore key themes in more depth (e.g. definitions of profit, workforce pathways, Children’s charter of rights).
Child Protection
Surveys on families’ experiences of smartphones, social media and going online
The Scottish Government are inviting families to share their experiences of using smartphones, social media and the internet through surveys aiming to identify what support they need to stay safe online. The first survey explores how children and young people use screens, apps and social media, as well as assessing the possible effects on their wellbeing and their confidence in staying safe on the internet. The second asks parents or carers about their own screen use, how confident they are in supporting their children’s screen use, and what resources they would find helpful, among other questions.
Early Learning and Childcare
Series of ‘Neurodiversity in Childminding’ webinars
The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) will host a series of 'Neurodiversity in Childminding' seminars exploring what neurodivergence within a childminding setting looks like, and each session will explore a different topic, from both the childminder’s perspective and in terms of supporting neurodivergent children and families. The sessions will be on neurodivergence as a concept within a childminding setting, the Importance of sensory environments for neurodivergent children, best practice inclusive communication styles for neurodivergent people, connections between neurodivergent masking and burnout, and practical strategies to engage and support neurodivergent people.
Play
Planning for Play - Saturday 5th September
Play Scotland, in partnership with International Play Association, Planning Aid Scotland, Inspiring Scotland and Thrive Outdoors, will hold an event on Saturday 5th September 2026 on the new SPACES guide, developed by the World Health Organisation, which explores how public spaces are crucial to children’s health and development, and how we can plan for them.
Other Health and Social Care
Updated guidance on how we inspect regulated care services
We have published updated guidance, 'How we inspect regulated services: guidance for providers of regulated care settings and the public'. The document explains our approach to inspecting regulated care services in Scotland, including how we plan inspections, gather and consider evidence, make evaluations, and share feedback with services. It is intended to support providers, people experiencing care, families, carers and the wider public to understand what to expect from inspection and how inspection supports improvement in the quality of care.
|
