Education reform legislation published - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The UK Safer Internet Centre has published a blog post about online chats in games, highlighting some of the risks to children and young people. The blog provides practical suggestions for keeping children safe when using online chats. 

My child is gaming with strangers – what should I do?  

The book was created in response to requests from early years practitioners for a resource to help them talk about human rights with children. The book aims to explain in a gentle, age-appropriate way what rights are and why they are important, and to support even very young children to understand their rights and to challenge adults in power when they feel their rights aren’t being respected. The children from Lochardil Primary School Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) played a vital role in creating the book, with their ideas helping to create and refine the illustrations, and some of their own drawings included. The book will be provided to every local authority nursery in Scotland before the end of term, with a Gaelic edition in production.

You can download or view a copy of the book below. We also have some physical copies available to order. Please email administration@cypcs.org.uk to find out more. Download here https://www.cypcs.org.uk/wpcypcs/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Lets_Explore_Our_Rights_2023.pdf

Summary of learning for improved practice around the voice of the child

Publication date May 2024

Listening to and capturing the voice of the child is essential for effective safeguarding practice. It helps professionals to understand children’s lived experiences, hear their views about their lives and circumstances, and take effective action to support or safeguard them.

Adult criminals, often from overseas organised crime groups, will threaten to share nude or semi-nude images and/or videos of a young person, unless they pay them or carry out some other demand. 

Children and young people of all ages, genders and sexualities are being targeted worldwide. Including in Scotland.

Read the press release: Childline data reveals boys are most vulnerable to ‘sextortion’

Watch the campaign video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl-iRm9iTh8

The first in a series of CPCScotland podcasts is now live. This episode features Daljeet Dagon and Stuart Allardyce (The Lucy Faithfull Foundation) discussing the topic of grooming.

These podcasts will be of interest to all professionals as well as members of the public who wish to gain a deeper understanding of key topics in child protection. CPC Scotland podcast episode 1 - grooming https://www.childprotection.scot/publication/cpcscotland-podcast-1-grooming/

The second CPCScotland podcast is now live. This episode features John Devaney (The University of Edinburgh), Marsha Scott (Scottish Women’s Aid) and Emily, a survivor of domestic abuse. The discussion focusses on how Scotland’s child protection system attempts to address domestic abuse and its impact on children.

These podcasts will be of interest to all professionals as well as members of the public who wish to gain a deeper understanding of key topics in child protection. CPC Scotland podcast episode 2 – domestic abuse

An updated version of CPCScotland and CELCIS publication A Review of Scotland’s National Indicators Relating to Child Neglect plus CPCScotland Neglect sub group chair Alan Small’s blog Making Sense of Scotland’s Child Neglect Data

We want all young people across the UK to understand healthy behaviours in relationships and recognise their right to be safe, heard and respected. And we want them to know how to get help from a safe adult if they need it.

https://app.tessello.co.uk/Dundee-learning/login#/CategoryId=5474&ProgrammeId=31446&ResourceId=196516

Link for outwith:

https://rise.articulate.com/share/YYxmEatkLp9RfQEv61aaChn8KOwOEhZ9

Source: NSPCC Learning 

Date published: 05 August 2025

NSPCC Learning has published a podcast episode discussing how to protect boys and young males from targeted online blackmail and extortion, featuring experts from Childline and CEOP Education, part of the National Crime Agency (NCA). The episode covers: what online financial sexual extortion is; how to spot the signs of online blackmail and extortion; how to support boys who are experiencing online sexual extortion; and how to report real and AI generated images.

Listen to the podcast: Podcast: Protecting boys from financially motivated sexual extortion
Listen on YouTube: Protecting boys from financially motivated sexual extortion

Source: Community Care

Date published: 01 August 2025

Community Care has published an article exploring links between poverty and domestic abuse in child protection. The article outlines findings from the Rethinking domestic abuse in child protection (RDAC) research project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, which examined these links. Research was undertaken with three local authorities, two in England and one in Scotland. Findings include that children living in poverty were more likely to come into care and that domestic abuse was an important factor in this; yet, the system often failed to recognise and examine how inequalities shaped families’ experiences and needs. The research also highlights the need to implement domestic abuse strategies that address poverty, engage with communities and place families’ voices at the heart of developments.

Read the news story: The overlooked link between poverty and domestic abuse in child protection: findings from research

Source: Guardian and BMJ Open

Date published: 05 August 2025

The Guardian has published a news story discussing findings from a research study analysing the impact of childhood exposure to verbal and physical abuse published in BMJ Open. The study draws combined data from seven general adult population surveys in England and Wales between 2012-2024. Key findings include: parents who ridicule, threaten or humiliate their children risk leaving them with a 64% higher chance of having poor mental health as an adult; and the prevalence of low mental wellbeing for those who had experienced no abuse stood at 16%, rising to 22.5% for those who had experienced physical abuse, 24% for verbal abuse, and 29% for both physical and verbal abuse.

Read the news story: Verbally abused children more likely to have poor mental health as adults, study finds
Read the study: Comparative relationships between physical and verbal abuse of children, life course mental well-being and trends in exposure: a multi-study secondary analysis of cross-sectional surveys in England and Wales

Source: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Date published: 01 August 2025

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has published a press release outlining how the Online Safety Act aims to help keep children safe online. The press release sets out information on: data privacy; virtual private networks; legal adult content; and support for the Online Safety Act.

Read the press release: Keeping children safe online: changes to the Online Safety Act explained

See also on NSPCC Learning 
> Online safety

Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 14 August 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.

Children’s Hearings Scotland has published new guidance for panel members - developed in partnership with CELCIS - on responding to the needs of infants, babies and very young children who are entering the Children’s Hearings System. responding-to-needs-of-infants-young-children-chs.pdf https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r02/___https:/www.chscotland.gov.uk/media/hdcnzgj4/responding-to-needs-of-infants-young-children-chs.pdf___.YzJlOmR1bmRlZWNjOmM6bzphZjI4Y2Y1YjhhOWQwMzNlMWEzNTliYzdjMmEyMDljNjo3OjZhY2I6MmMyYTIyODMxZDk4MjViOGNmMjIzMDU2YzBhMDA3MGNiN2ZjZDkwYTE1ZTZmZTZlMTQ1YmQ3NDU3ZGZlZmVlMDpwOkY6Rg

The Scottish Government has published a tool designed to help leaders consider and support local improvement in response to self-harm, in line with the Scottish Government and COSLA Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan. Supporting improved responses to self-harm: A reflection and improvement tool - gov.scot In addition, a mid-term review of the Self-Harm strategy and Action Plan was also published in December.

The Scottish Government has published a draft version and public consultation of 'Scotland’s Vision for Kinship Care', which puts forward the government's proposals to provide consistent and fair support for families caring for children.

by Sara Cullen (Author)

Blood Red Sky is a story of love, loss, humour and hope and makes you wonder; what should we do with teenagers who cross the line? Should we lock them up, or take time to find out the truth?

An important read about the glamour free YOI custody experience in Scotland for young people, anyone working around or concerned with youth justice (we all should be!).

Fiona Dyer, Director, Children & Young People’s Centre for Justice, says:
Despite the darkness that Blood Red Sky explores, this is not a hopeless book. What Sara has done so well is to balance truth with hope and show that with the right support, change is possible. Cycles can be broken. Futures can be reimagined. Relationships can heal. This is not wishful thinking – it is a reflection of what happens when compassion, courage, and understanding meet action.

Chris Wild, National Youth Advisor for Young People and author of ‘The State of It’, says:
Blood Red Sky shines a harsh light on youth justice in lockdown – a powerful story of love, loss, and the fight for truth.

Jennifer Horgan, author of ‘O Captain, My Captain': One Teacher's Call for Change…’ says:
Realist fiction at its most powerful.

Gwen Adshead, co-author of BBC Book of the Week, ‘The Devil You Know’, says:
A necessary light of compassion in the dark shadow of social exclusion.

Gráinne Murphy, author of 'Winter People', says:
A deeply affecting look at the impact of intergenerational poverty and violence on family bonds and teenagers' perceptions of inevitability and their own power and choices.

Nicola Garrard, author of 'On the Edge', says:
Hard-hitting, immersive and poignant.

About the Author, Sara Cullen

Sara Cullen is an Irish writer living in Fife, Scotland. Sara’s commitment to writing for social justice began in her teens when she joined Amnesty International and corresponded with a pen pal on death row in Oklahoma. Inspired by To Kill a Mockingbird at age 13 (thanks to her English teacher), Sara pursued a degree in English Literature from University College Cork and later spent 17 years teaching English in Scottish high schools. She also served as a Guidance Teacher in areas of high deprivation.

Sara’s dedication to child welfare led her to work in the Public Protection Unit and earn a qualification in Child Welfare and Protection from the University of Stirling. Her writing reflects her belief that books have the power to change the world and her commitment to amplifying the voices of care-experienced children who have encountered the justice system at a young age.

An introduction to the Children's Hearings System - SCRA

Six short animations introducing professionals to the Children Hearings system.

• Introduction to the Children's Hearings System - 2:36

• The Children's Hearings System - 2:18

• The Role of the Reporter - 2:36

• Definition of a child in the Hearing System - 2:18

• What is a Children's Hearing - 1:07

• People in the Hearing Room - 4:46

The Scottish Government has announced an independent review of children's care legislation in Scotland, which will be led by Professor Kenneth Norrie, a leading authority on family law in Scotland, and CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection. The review intends to improve and clarify the legislative framework around children's care by gathering evidence directly from the sector. https://www.gov.scot/news/review-of-legislative-landscape-for-children-in-care/

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published a new web page on screen time and online harms bringing together key resources to help inform conversations with families and guide practice. The resources include screen guidelines for children under five as well as guidance for parents on online harms. https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/screen-time-online-harms-resources-members

https://rise.articulate.com/share/_PpfTvqSUMW3lPBXFWlh9XfH8pHG1xqB

• grooming

• domestic abuse

• lasting effects of childhood abuse

• online abuse

• non-reporting

NSPCC Learning has published an updated statistics briefing on child neglect. The briefing looks at data and statistics about child neglect in the UK to help professionals make evidence-based decisions, covering the scale of the issue and what data tells us about children who have been neglected. Findings include: the total number of police recorded child cruelty offences is increasing, and that neglect is the most common form of abuse. you can access the information here