Winter 2026 News ❄️

Please note we have moved to a quarterly newsletter. 

Professional Learning and Events

Youth Voice Toolkit: Professional Learning

Thu, 19 February 2026, 16:00-17:00 and Thu, 12 March 2026, 16:00-17:00

This online professional learning session aims to support practitioners and leaders to embed the new Youth Voice Toolkit across a range of settings. The Toolkit supports genuine consultation and youth voice activities with children and young people, across school and community settings.

This session will cover:

  • finding the Toolkit and navigating the website
  • implementation across a range of settings
  • using the sections and understanding the principles of the Youth Voice Charter and Empowering Youth Voices Resource Pack.

Find out more and sign-up here: Youth Voice Toolkit: Professional Learning 19/02/26 | Events | Education Scotland and here: Youth Voice Toolkit: Professional Learning 12/03/26 | Events | Education Scotland

 

Coaching in Education: Introductory Session 

Wed, 04 March 2026, 16:00-17:30

This introductory session will support you to engage with our Coaching in Education online professional learning resource.

If you are new to coaching or have previous experience and skills, this introduction will support you to engage with our Coaching in Education online professional learning resource.

Find out more and sign-up here: Coaching in Education: Introductory Session 3 | Events | Education Scotland

 

Responding to Racist Incidents: Launch of the new Whole School Approach 

Mon, 23 March 2026, 16:00-17:30

Are you looking to build your confidence in responding to racism and racist incidents in school? In this webinar, we will be introducing the Scottish Government’s new Whole School Approach to Responding to Racist Incidents. The session will provide an overview of the new approach and the related guidance on addressing racist incidents.

We also aim to cover different scenarios and questions submitted by attendees in advance of the webinar. If you have a specific question or anonymised incident you would like us to explore together during the webinar, please submit it by Monday 23th of March: https://forms.office.com/e/WareTLuEQi

Sign up here: Responding to Racist Incidents: Launch of the new Whole School Approach Tickets, Mon, Mar 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

BRL+ webinar: Alistair Heather on Scotland’s Hidden Colonial History

Tue, 17 March 2026, 16:00-17:30

Join Education Scotland’s Building Racial Literacy (BRL) team for a special BRL+ webinar featuring Alistair Heather discussing Scotland’s hidden colonial past. Alistair is an award‑winning Scottish writer, broadcaster, and public historian known for making Scotland’s past accessible through his BBC programmes, newspaper columns, and cultural commentary. He combines strong academic training in history with an engaging storytelling style, sharing Scotland’s heritage through tours, media, and his popular Historic_Ally platform.

Find out more and sign-up here: BRL+ webinar: Alistair Heather on Scotland’s Hidden Colonial History | Events | Education Scotland

 

Winter Updates and Resources

Adaptive Teaching and Differentiation – Practitioner Survey

Education Scotland Associates (ESAs) are focusing on adaptive teaching and differentiation. We are hoping to gather the views and experiences of practitioners across Scotland your views are important to help shape the professional learning opportunities that will be offered.

This MS form will be live from 9th February until the 19th. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Your time and views are appreciated.

Survey link can be accessed here:  Education Scotland Associates Practitioner Consultation  – Meeting Learner Needs

 

Bullying – A Guide for Parents and Carers

A free parents & carers eLearning module  is now live on the respectme website.  This course has been created specifically to support parents and carers understand and respond to bullying, increase confidence and gain new practical skills to support children and young people.

Find out more here: Parents and carers | respectme

 

What does the RSHP guidance update mean? – Time for Inclusive Education

Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) has developed this quick explainer summarising the updated RSHP guidance. The Scottish Government has published updated statutory Guidance on the Delivery of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) Education in Scottish Schools. TIE’s explainer gives a clear rundown of what’s changed and what this means for settings.

Find out more here: What does the RSHP guidance update mean? – Time for Inclusive Education

The full updated RSHP guidance is available here: guidance-delivery-relationships-sexual-health-parenthood-rshp-education-scottish-schools.pdf

 

SWIRL – Sexual Wellbeing Image Resource Library Scotland

This month was the official Launch of SWIRL, the free sexual health image bank.
This is designed for professionals who can use the images to create sexual health resources for young people and adults with a learning disability (or any other people who may benefit). Although mostly focusing on topics covered in secondary school and beyond, some Images (body parts, pregnancy etc) can be used at primary level.

Find out more here: SWIRL – Sexual Wellbeing Image Resource Library Scotland

 

Mentors in Violence Prevention Case Study

This case study explores the partnership between Smithycroft Secondary School and St Paul’s Youth Forum (SPYF) to deliver the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme. Supporting Scotland’s Equally Safe strategy, the collaboration combines classroom learning with community youth work to address issues such as consent, pornography, and harmful gender norms. SPYF staff co-facilitated MVP sessions in school and in the youth group, creating informal, trusted spaces for open discussion and empowering students as active bystanders and leaders. This case study highlights the positive impact of this integrated approach in reinforcing prevention messages across school and community

Find out more here: MVP: An effective school and youth work partnership | Mentors in Violence Prevention in Scottish Schools

 

Care Visions Family Talk

These podcasts explore the tough realities for modern parenting. Topics include online abuse, misogyny, digital harm, the brain and porn.

Find out more here: Care Visions Family Talk

 

Free resources for parents from Togetherness (formerly known as the Solihull Approach)

Togetherness has evidence-based engaging materials to help parents learn about emotional health, brain development and how to best support children from pre-birth to 19. Parents and carers can use the materials independently or a practitioner can facilitate the learning. The materials can also be used by teenagers and by professionals working with children and young people.
Courses include:
  • Helpful insights into child development, their emotions and how to nurture them
  • Tools and ideas for building stronger, more positive relationships and how to best support children as they grow and develop
  • Insight into child and adolescent brain development
  • Support through key transitions, including starting school, adolescence, and the journey into adulthood How to Access

Find out more here: Scotland | Togetherness – Togetherness

 

New Gender Equality in Education Resources 

Since April 2025, ten primary schools have joined the Dundee School Project, reaching potentially 3,300 pupils. Teachers report increased awareness of gender inequality and positive shifts in children’s attitudes.

Teachers are also creating their own lessons inspired by the free digital resources, supported by a new Teachers’ Exchange on Equal At Home.

While the Dundee School Project remains the core programme, development has begun on a new initiative: Gender Unconscious and Conscious Workshops for Educators.

Find out more: Equal At Home