How important is it for mothers to use hand gestures to communicate with their infants? This is the key question investigated by new research being showcased at the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Festival of Social Science on 18 March. |  |
The population of the UK is ageing. Sixteen per cent of the UK population is 65 or older, and for the first time, there are more people over the age of 65 than there are under the age of 18. | |
Every school understands the importance of positive home/school relationships, especially where parents and children are in particularly tough circumstances. |  |
We are delighted that the teenage conception rate in England and Wales has decreased. The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy aimed to halve teenage conception rates by this year, so the figures reveal that this ambitious target has been missed. |  |
Marie Stopes International reveals new research findings into attitudes towards sexual health advertising, as potential revisions to the rules governing broadcast advertising are considered. | |
The British Humanist Association (BHA), the Accord Coalition, and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England have condemned the Government’s move to permit state-funded “faith schools” to teach Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in ways skewed towards the religion of the school, and to permit parents to withdraw their children from SRE altogether. |  |
The British Humanist Association (BHA) has reacted to the news that the Catholic Education Service has claimed the credit for a Government amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill that will deprive children of their right to broad, balanced and objective Sex and Relationships Education. | |
The British Humanist Association (BHA) and the Children's Rights Alliance for England have condemned a new Government amendment to its own Children, Schools and Families Bill, describing it as discriminatory. | |
Young people are challenging politicians to make five key changes to improve their lives. |  |
Research highlighted today (Tuesday 9th February) by the fpa as part of their Contraceptive Awareness Week campaign conceivable? reveals that unplanned pregnancies do not just happen to teenagers; in fact, abortion rates are the same for women aged 40-44 as for the under 16 year olds1. | |
These figures indicate that for many young teenagers drinking has moved beyond experimentation and into far more dangerous territory. |  |
As we approach the UK General Election, Voice: the union for education professionals has set out its challenge to the political parties on the future of education and childcare with its own Election Manifesto for issues that are the responsibility of the Westminster Parliament.
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Lowering the voting age to 16 has this weekend been prioritised as a way to mend Britain’s broken democracy. Two hundred people from across the UK selected the proposal as one of 29 reforms to strengthen parliament and give people a real say in key issues. | |
The NUT welcomes the Government’s acceptance of the 10 recommendations made by Sir Roger Singleton in his review of the new Vetting & Barring Scheme. This is a step forward in developing a robust but fair framework for child protection. | |
In April the British Prime Minister (MP for Scotland’s Kirkaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency) announced (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7995652.stm) plans to force all English children, (but not those of his own constituents because he only has control over England in this matter), to carry out at least 50 hours of community service before the age of 19. |  |
The Republic of Ireland’s strict abortion ban is being challenged in the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg. | |
Bullying in all its pernicious forms can destroy young people’s self-confidence and happiness and tragically, in extreme cases, their lives. Tackling bullying must be a top priority for all schools. | |
We welcome the fact that Government is putting their money where their mouth is in continuing to tackle the pressing issue of child poverty with practical measures. The extension of the free school meals programme recognises the problems facing low income families. | |