New smoke and heat alarm regulations
New smoke and heat alarm regulations.
New smoke and heat alarm regulations
Scottish Government
Scottish Government
Scottish pupils with a new laptop or tablet
Scottish pupils with a laptop or tablet
Scotland Baby Box on Sunday 15 August
A Scotland Baby Box is offered to all newborns in Scotland.
Parents have overwhelmingly backed Scotland Baby Box.
In an independent evaluation, 97% of parents rated the box and its contents as good.
Around 186,000 Baby Boxes will have been delivered to families by its fourth anniversary on Sunday (15 August). Uptake among expectant parents hit a record high of 98% in 2020.
In the evaluation, parents highlighted benefits of the Scotland Baby Box, including saving them money on essential items for newborns and helping with information on child health and development.
In the evaluation:
- 91% parents agreed that getting a baby box had saved them money on items they would otherwise have to buy
- 84% of parents said they had found the leaflet on safe sleeping useful
- 60% of parents felt the inclusion of books in the baby box had encouraged them to start reading with their baby earlier – younger, first-time and lower income parents were particularly likely to say this
- 66% of parents said they found the leaflet on breastfeeding useful and 68% found the leaflet on post-natal depression useful
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said:
“The Baby Box is part of our commitment to making sure that every child, no matter what their circumstances, has the best start in life. I am delighted that so many parents continue to value the box, and that they and their babies are benefitting from it and its contents.
“It is encouraging to see that the positive impacts of the Baby Box are felt right across all families, but particularly among first-time parents, younger parents and families on lower incomes.
“This evaluation really highlights the positive impact it is having on parents and their newborns – a fitting tribute on its fourth birthday.”
Jackie Tolland, from Parent Network Scotland, said:
“As a parenting organisation, we were delighted to be part of the launch of the Baby Box in 2017. Since then, we have heard many stories about how helpful and very much-needed the Baby Box has been to families. We continue to promote the Baby Box and thank the Scottish Government for keeping parents in mind at the start of their parenting journey. We appreciate all the support.”
A Scotland Baby Box is offered to all newborns in Scotland.
Scotland Baby Box provides families with a range of essential items for their first six months, delivered in a sturdy cardboard box, which can be used as a safe sleeping space during the early months of a baby’s life. The contents of the baby box are designed to inform and support positive parenting behaviours.
Here is the full list of items included in Scotland’s Baby Box:
A poem written by Scotland’s national poet, Jackie Kay, ‘Welcome Wee One’.
Scratch mittens (newborn)
Short-sleeved vest (newborn)
Long-sleeved vest (newborn)
Long-sleeved side buttoning vest (newborn)
Cotton hat (0-3 months)
Long-sleves vest (x2) (0-3 months)
Long-sleeved sleepsuit (0-3 months)
Jersey leggings (x2) (0-3 months)
Socks (0-3 months)
All-in-one daysuit (0-6 months)
Jersey trousers (3-6 months)
Long-sleeves sleepsuit (3-6 months)
Pair of socks (3-6 months)
Fleece jacket with hood (3-6 months)
Mattress
Mattress protector
Fitted sheet
Cellular blanket
Baby wrap
Hooded bath towel
Digital ear thermometer
Bath sponge
Bath and room thermometer
Teething ring soother
Baby books
Play mat
Emery boards
Bib
Muslin cloth squares (x3)
Comforter toy
Travel mat
Pack of disposable nursing pads
Maternity pads
Pack of three condoms (x2)
Further information
Baby Box University – This is an online education platform which hosts video clips on parent and baby health and wellbeing for new and expectant parents ( Baby Box University website www.babyboxuniversity.com )
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Stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19
Stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19
Scotland COVID restrictions move out from 9 August
Scotland COVID restrictions move out
Best Start Foods – Boost family incomes
Best Start Foods – Boost family incomes
Free bus travel in Scotland for under the age of 22
Free bus travel in Scotland
New Self-isolation rules for close contacts of COVID-19
Changes are being made to self-isolation rules for close contacts of COVID cases to allow essential staff in critical roles to return to work to maintain lifeline services and critical national infrastructure.
It will be possible to apply to exempt those who work in critical roles where staff shortages are in danger of putting essential services, such as health and social care, transport and the provision of food supplies at risk.
Exemption will only be granted in respect of members of staff who voluntarily agree not to self isolate, and the employers’ duty of care to all their employees must be respected.
Strict conditions will apply – staff must be double-vaccinated and in receipt of their second dose at least two weeks previously. They will also require to have a negative PCR test and to agree to undertake daily lateral flow tests.
Applications may be made via the Scottish Government website.
Exemptions will be made on a temporary basis and last only for as long as there is an immediate risk to business or service continuity.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“It is essential that lifeline services and critical national infrastructure are maintained and we are implementing these changes now – ahead of possible changes to self-isolation rules for close contacts that may apply more generally in future – to ensure staff shortages do not put key services at risk.
“We have seen significant staff shortages in a small number of organisations in recent days and we have worked with them to protect services. Applications for exemptions are being considered from today and we will consider applications as they come in.
“Clinical evidence tells us we can safely and effectively release some critical staff from self-isolation, with appropriate safeguards. However, this is a very limited change at this stage, to be applied on a case by case basis and only where absolutely necessary.
“We will not allow key services to be threatened by staff shortages but equally we must continue to protect public health.”
More information
Information and support for people who are asked to self-isolate because of COVID-19.
The First Minister set out to parliament on 13 July that changes to self-isolation policy may take effect beyond Level 0.
Under this new process, before a staff member who is a close contact of a positive case can return to work, they must fulfil the following criteria:
- be fully vaccinated, having had their second dose at least 14 days before exposure
- be asymptomatic, and be in possession of a valid vaccination record (available from NHS Inform here)
- have evidence of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
- return a daily negative lateral flow test for up to 10 days after exposure
- fully comply with any PPE requirements, hand hygiene and other infection control measures
Staff who cannot reasonably isolate from on-going exposure to a COVID positive household member will not usually be asked to return to work.
Applications can be made via the Scottish Government website and will be required to demonstrate:
- that the organisation meets the definition of CNI as set out here Critical National Infrastructure | CPNI
- how self-isolation is impacting critical functions and services
- what steps have already been taken to address this pressure
- the impact of no action
- the scope of the requested exemption – location, number of staff etc
- whether they are currently engaging with a local IMT regarding outbreak management
Health, social care and local services will have a different process and this will be communicated separately.
Scotland will move to Level 0 on Monday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed that all of Scotland will move to Level 0 Covid -19 restrictions on Monday – however, there would be a number of changes to what had previously been announced.
Scottish Government covid protection levels update
From Monday (19 July) Scotland will move to Level 0, with modifications on previous guidance:
Scotland will move to Level 0 with Main changes new things:
- Up to 8 people from 4 households can meet in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight.
- Up to 10 people from 4 households can meet in an indoor public place with 1m distance between households.
- Up to 15 people from 15 households can meet outdoors in your garden or a public place for informal gathering – distancing not required within the group of 15 outdoors, but different groups need to distance.
- You do not need to physically distance from family and friends in a private home.
- Customers no longer need to pre-book a two-hour time slot in hospitality venues (unless the venue requests it) but track and trace details must still be collected.
- Hospitality venues must close at midnight.
- Those arriving from amber list countries will no longer have to isolate on arrival in Scotland, if double vaccinated and return a negative PCR test.
- You can travel anywhere in Scotland.
- You can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries.
- Up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals.
- You should still work from home where possible.
- All organized outdoor and indoor sports, personal training, organized exercise and coaching are permitted with safety measures.
- Small seated indoor events are permitted with a maximum of 400 people.
- Outdoor seated and open space events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 2,000 people.
- Outdoor grouped standing events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 1,000 people.
- We still shouldn’t be car sharing with those not in our household.
- We should be testing regularly, regardless of whether or not we have COVID-19 symptoms – full details on different types of testing: https://www.gov.scot/…/coronavirus-covid-19-getting…/
- Make sure you get both doses of your vaccine to reduce the risk of serious illness if you catch COVID-19.
- Beyond Level 0 (on track for 9 August), the blanket self-isolation of all close contacts will be removed if double vaccinated and return a negative PCR test.
- Advice is being gathered on the removal of self-isolation of young people who are close contacts in education settings. A further update and decision on this will be taken before the return of schools.
- The next full review of the protection levels will take place on Tuesday 3 August ahead of the potential move beyond Level 0 from Monday 9 August.
Scotland will move to Level 0: what you can do
Check the level for an area using the postcode tool.
At Level 0:
- you can meet socially in groups:
- of up to 8 people from 4 households in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight
- of up to 10 people from 4 households in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant
- of up to 15 people from 15 households outdoors
- under 12s do not count towards the total number of people or households meeting outside but count towards the household numbers indoors
- you do not need to physically distance from family and friends in a private home
- you can travel anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2 but must not enter a Level 3 or 4 area unless for a permitted reason
- you can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries
- you can provide informal childcare, for example to look after a grandchild
- up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals
- tradespeople can carry out any work in your home such as painting, decorating or repairing
- you should work from home where possible
Testing
Everyone is encouraged to get tested, as around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms. Testing is free and results are available in around 30 minutes. Read guidance on getting tested.
Scotland will move to Level 0 What can open:
Places and business that can open at Level 0 include:
- cafés, pubs and restaurants
- all shops and stores
- all close contact services including hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons
- all sport and exercise
- tourist accommodation
- all visitor attractions
- all public buildings like libraries and community centres
- all entertainment (apart from nightclubs and adult entertainment)
- stadiums and events – with maximum numbers
- a limited and phased return to offices
What must close at Level 0
Places and business that must close at Level 0 include:
- Nightclubs and adult entertainment.
School clothing grant
Help with school clothing grant for uniforms increases.
Eligible families can apply for a grant of at least £120 to help with the cost of school uniforms.
The Scottish Government and local authority leaders have reached an agreement to increase the national school clothing grant to a minimum of £120 per eligible primary school pupil and £150 per eligible secondary school pupil. This will be supported by £11.8 million of additional funding to local authorities.
The announcement marks another commitment for the first 100 days of this Government.
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“School uniforms can place a significant financial burden on families, some of whom are already facing additional hardship as a result of the pandemic.
“This school clothing grant will help to relieve some of that pressure for around 145,000 families and it will help to ensure that all children can go to school feeling comfortable, confident and ready to learn.”
COSLA Children and Young People’s spokesperson Councillor Stephen McCabe said:
“Councils and schools are working to tackle the costs of the school day, ensuring that all children are able to fully participate in their education. Working with the Scottish Government, we are pleased that the national minimum school clothing grant has been increased and that families can get extra support as we continue on the road to recovery from the pandemic.”
Eligible families can apply for the school clothing grant through their local council.
