The latest news from Parenting Across Scotland10Changes to the welfare system are having a major effect on many people including lone parents. One Parents Families Scotland is interested in Lone Parents views on how these changes are affecting you and what issues need to be addressed to improve things. /news--events/latest-news/lone-parents-not-in-work.aspx/news--events/latest-news/responses-to-the-children-and-young-people-bill.aspxA study by parenting website Netmums found that the pressure to be seen as the perfect parent was so great that a third of parents admitted lying about their children's sleeping habits. /news--events/latest-news/majority-of-parents-lie-about-coping-with-sleep-deprivation.aspxSafer Internet Day (7th February 2012) is organised to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones especially by children and young people. /news--events/latest-news/safer-internet-day-.aspxChanges to tax and benefits are hitting families the hardest./news--events/latest-news/families-bear-austerity-burden.aspxRelationships Scotland and Shelter Scotland have launched a new service 'Safe and Sound'. The service aims to reach out to the 12,000 young people who flee their homes each year. /news--events/latest-news/new-runaways-prevention-project-launched.aspxA study conducted by Bounty UK on behalf of the charity Family Action has found that a fifth of pregnant women and new mums feel that they have very little support./news--events/latest-news/new-mums-lack-support-networks.aspxA report by the Scottish parliament's education and culture committee reveals that looked after children are still falling well short of their peers in educational attainment./news--events/latest-news/looked-after-children-still-struggling-in-education.aspxWould you like to know more about how the changes to the benefit and tax credit systems will affect lone parents in Scotland? If the answer is yes, then come to our information session on Welfare Reform and Universal Credit. /news--events/latest-news/do-you-work-with-lone-parents.aspxOne Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) has produced a briefing summarising the implications of the welfare reform bill for lone parents and their children in Scotland. /news--events/latest-news/the-impact-of-welfare-reforms-on-lone-parents.aspxParents in Scotland are facing some of the highest childcare costs in Britain. Some parents are paying £12,000 per year for childcare./news--events/latest-news/childcare-costs-soar.aspxThe National Parent Forum of Scotland has organised a series of information events for parents and carers/news--events/latest-news/new-qualifications---parent-information-events.aspxA report from Gingerbread and the Children's Society suggests that young and disabled single parents could lose hundreds of pounds a year under Universal Credit./news--events/latest-news/young-or-disabled-single-parents-set-to-lose-out-under-uc.aspxFour charities in Scotland are collecting information about how changes in the economy and welfare are affecting families in Scotland. /news--events/latest-news/are-you-being-affected-by-austerity,-welfare-reform,-inflation.aspxA National Children's Bureau report calls for an urgent rethink of the government's current strategy for tacking child poverty. /news--events/latest-news/the-question-should-not-be-how-to-measure-child-poverty-but-how-to-eradicate-it.aspxAccording to the Scottish Sexual Health Lead Clinicians Group, emergency contraception should be available from the school nurse including condoms and the morning after pill./news--events/latest-news/experts-call-on-scottish-goverment-to-provide-morning-after-pill-in-schools.aspxEast Dunbartonshire Council is the first local authority to have a bespoke app for parents. Parents who download the free app can keep up to date with the latest news and events at their child's school. /news--events/latest-news/council-launches-first-schools'-app.aspxAccording to a new Scandinavian study one cup of fresh coffee per day significantly increases the risk of babies being born underweight by up to 62%. /news--events/latest-news/coffee-linked-to-underweight-babies-.aspxFind out what it's like for children growing up in Scotland. The Growing Up in Scotland study published new findings yesterday looking at parents experiences of childcare, breastfeeding and parenting competence./news--events/latest-news/majority-of-parents-get-childcare-help-from-grandparents.aspxAdvice agencies say tenants might be able to get around the tax because the law is unclear and there is no legal definition of what is classed as a bedroom./news--events/latest-news/can-you-avoid-the-bedroom-tax.aspxIn a meeting with representatives from Glasgow Housing Association, Iain Duncan Smith MP made a promise to consider introducing more flexibility in his bedroom tax./news--events/latest-news/welfare-secretary-promises-flexibility-over-bedroom-tax.aspxJudicial Review proceedings have been launched on behalf of 10 disabled and vulnerable children, challenging the UK Government's proposed bedroom tax, which is due to come in to effect on 1st April. /news--events/latest-news/ten-children-launch-legal-challenge-against-bedroom-tax.aspx/news--events/latest-news/poverty-will-affect-an-additional-half-a-million-children.aspxAt his party conference, the first minister sets out his ambitions for changing childcare policy to enable more women to take up employment opportunities./news--events/latest-news/childcare---top-priority-for-snp.aspxA study carried out by doctors have found that very few babies become seriously ill because they do not receive enough milk from breastfeeding, a prevalence of seven in every 100,000, which is less than 1%./news--events/latest-news/researchers-find-issues-with-breastfeeding-rarely-results-in-serious-illness.aspxResearch by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has found that more than two million poor families will face significant increases in their council tax bills from 1st April./news--events/latest-news/poorest-families-facing-tax-hike.aspxRoots of Empathy is a programme, where a very young baby and their parent makes a series of visits to a primary class and takes part in activities. The aim of the programme is to increase the empathy between pupils and promote 'prosocial' behaviour. /news--events/latest-news/acclaimed-anti-bullying-scheme-to-be-rolled-out-across-scotland.aspxFamilies Outside has launched a new booklet about the important role that schools can play in supporting families affected by imprisonment /news--events/latest-news/supporting-families-affected-by-imprisonment.aspxThe guide covers all you need to know about the benefits you are entitled to, maternity rights at work, housing options, arrangements for your children after separation and divorce and childcare./news--events/latest-news/lone-parents-rights-guide-2013-(opfs).aspxA recent report from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) highlights what the impact of benefit reforms, changes and cuts have on people and families in Scotland./news--events/latest-news/a-tidal-wave-of-change.aspxA report carried out by educationalists at Plymouth University with backing from the Economic and Scocial Research Council has found that primary school children learn better by spending more time playing and learning outdoors and less time studying in the classroom. /news--events/latest-news/research-highlights-the-value-of-outdoor-play.aspxThe Scottish Kinship Care Alliance (launched today) is calling on the Scottish Government to provide greater support for kin carers./news--events/latest-news/kinship-carers-call-for-greater-support.aspxLawyer Mike Dailly has put forward a petition to the Scottish Government asking ministers to halt the eviction of tenants who are struggling to pay their rent as a result of the Bedroom Tax./news--events/latest-news/a-labour-msp-backs-the-call-for-a-change-in-the-law-to-stop-evictions.aspxThe Scottish Government's Children and Young People bill will entitle 3 and 4 year-olds to 600 hours of free early learning nursery education per year. /news--events/latest-news/increase-in-free-pre-school-childcare.aspxThe Children and Young People Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 18th April./news--events/latest-news/children-and-young-people-bill-(scotland).aspxAnalysis by the Institute of Fiscal Studies predicts that by 2013 the average income will drop by 7.4%. The think tank has warned that families will be worse of in 2016 than they were 14 years earlier. /news--events/latest-news/family-income-plummets.aspxStandard Grades, Highers and Advanced Highers start today. All parents and children know how important it is to get good qualifications but this can be a very stressful time for young people and their parents. /news--events/latest-news/scottish-exams-starting-today.aspxOver 40% of UK families will not qualify for for the UK governments new tax-free childcare voucher scheme proposed in the budget./news--events/latest-news/concerns-over-childcare-support-scheme.aspxFigures reveal that the number of children requiring additional support in the classroom has grown significantly since 2002. In 2002 29,000 children needed extra support , in 2012 this figure had risen to 118,034. /news--events/latest-news/big-rise-in-pupils-who-need-extra-support.aspxA report published today suggests that under Universal Credit 9 out of 10 families will not be better off. /news--events/latest-news/most-families-will-see-no-additional-income-under-universal-credit.aspxThe Healthy Start programme provides vitamin supplements to low income families, in addition to vouchers towards the cost of milk, fruit and vegetables./news--events/latest-news/a-healthy-start.aspxThe Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) warned that SNP legislation, which limits the size of P1 classes to 25, is reducing parent's choice on which primary school their children attend./news--events/latest-news/reduction-in-class-size-limits-parent's-choice-on-primary-school.aspxThousands of new mothers are suffering because their post natal depression goes untreated./news--events/latest-news/mothers-suffering-from-pnd-are-getting-little-help.aspxPAS is dedicating this week to the 'Parenting Discussion'./news--events/latest-news/pas-parenting-discussion-week.aspxFollowing this year's riots, media attention turned to look at parents and parenting as both cause and solution. This report 'Where now for parenting?' is a collection of articles that highlights the challenges that face parents today and explores solutions to effectively support families. /news--events/latest-news/where-now-for-parenting.aspxThe Scottish Government in partnership with the Scottish Coalition for Young Runaways has launched a Young Runaways Training Pack./news--events/latest-news/young-runaways-training-pack.aspxA new initiative 'Roots of Empathy' is being rolled out across 16 Scouncil areas in Scotland. The scheme is designed to increase empathy and nurturing behaviour in primary school age children./news--events/latest-news/school-children-learning-from-babies.aspxA report out today by Save the Children has suggested that as many as 100,000 single parents could lose out with the introduction of the Universal credit, some by as much as £3500 per year./news--events/latest-news/hard-working-single-mums-could-lose-3500-a-year.aspxOn behalf of the Scottish Government, Peter Doran is currently chairing a review of how best to provide education for Scottish children and young people with the most complex learning needs. These consultation events are to gather the views of both families and parent support groups on the key issues. /news--events/latest-news/have-your-say-on-complex-additional-support-needs.aspxA third of households with children said they had suffered a significant downturn in their finances over the last 12 months, a sharper decline in fortune than homes with no children. /news--events/latest-news/two-thirds-of-families-worse-off-compared-to-last-year.aspxCapability Scotland wants to find out from wheelchair users and from carers of those who use wheelchairs about their experience of getting a wheelchair from the NHS or from private providers./news--events/latest-news/wheelchair-users-survey.aspxA survey by CHILDREN 1st has found that 52 per cent of people have witnessed a person drunk in charge of a child. A quarter have seen someone who was dring alcohol act aggressively or violently towards a child. /news--events/latest-news/80,000-children-in-scotland-affected-by-parental-alcohol-misuse.aspxNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have launched a new campaign to encourage parents to talk to their children about growing up, relationships and sexual health. /news--events/latest-news/parents-are-being-encouraged-to-talk-to-their-children-about-sex.aspxA survey by the insurance company Aviva suggests that multigenerational households are becoming the norm./news--events/latest-news/more-families-living-together-for-longer.aspxAileen Campbell, MSP, Minister for Children and Young People will launch the National Parenting Strategy at the Parenting across Scotland conference. The conference provides an opportunity to hear what the National Parenting Strategy contains, to discuss its content with a wide range of parenting practitioners and policy makers, and to influence its future development and implementation. Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 3rd October 2012 /news--events/latest-news/parenting-across-scotland-conference-2012.aspx/news--events/latest-news/voices-from-the-frontline.aspxA recent study suggests that over 1 million mothers are choosing to stay at home. /news--events/latest-news/high-cost-of-childcare-deterring-mums-from-returning-to-work.aspxCapability Scotland is providing good cheer with its list of accessible festive events for families. It is also looking for roving reporters to tell them how accessible Scotland’s Christmas attractions are. /news--events/latest-news/accessible-christmas-events.aspxFind practical advice and information if you're separating or have separated./news--events/latest-news/the-ins-and-outs-of-splitting-up.aspxA new report from Barnardo's suggests that due to the high costs of childcare and changes to the welfare system parents will have to increase their hours to pay for childcare. /news--events/latest-news/high-childcare-costs-will-leave-many-in-poverty.aspxScotland's chief medical officer , Sir Harry Burns, has called on the government to take urgent action to tackle Scotland's poor health record./news--events/latest-news/urgent-action-needed-to-improve-scotland's-health.aspx