News
Read the latest news from Connect, from Partnership Schools Scotland and from the world of Scottish education.
You will also find blogs by Connect staff and by our guest bloggers here. Education policy updates and findings from our surveys will be posted on this page too.
Latest Tweets
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Parents & parent groups! If you're thinking about teacher gifts, pls remember a heartfelt 'thank you' or a wee note… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
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Launched today! Educators, book your places now! The autumn programme of our highly-regarded prof learning modules… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
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#ParentalEngagement @holyroodinsight conference hearing from teams from @Clovenstone + @Castleview_PS @Edinburgh_CC… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Connect's Programme of Professional Learning for Autumn 2019 is now available!
17th June 2019
Book your place on our highly-regarded professional learning modules on family engagement in children's learning and school lives now!
Scottish Government publishes review of Primary 1 Scottish National Standardised Assessments
11th June 2019
The independent review of P1 SNSAs by David Reedy is published by the Scottish Government
How are trials of the 1140 hours of free early learning and childcare going? We asked parents across Scotland
5th June 2019
Our parent survey about trials of the 1140 hours of free early learning and childcare found inconsistencies and parent confusion
Connect Members: Summer 2019 Issue of Backchat 149
21st May 2019
Read the latest edition of our Members' termly newsletter
Education and Skills Committee report on Standardised Assessments is published
24th April 2019
Connect welcomes the scrutiny the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee has given to Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA).
Scottish Government to adjust, not scrap, P1 tests
18th April 2019
Connect responds to the Scottish Government's announcement on changes to P1 standardised assessments
Connect's Partnership Schools Scotland Year 3 Report 2017-2018
3rd April 2019
Find out about the work of some of our inspiring Partnership Schools in our Year 3 Report
Musical Instrument Tuition Inquiry: COSLA and John Swinney's responses are published
28th March 2019
Responses from COSLA and John Swinney about funding to support musical instrument tuition in schools are very disappointing
Connect's Annual Lecture 2019: Carol Craig
19th March 2019
Listen to this recording of Carol Craig's fantastic lecture, Learning to Cope: How Do Children Become Resilient?
Connect's Annual Report and Year in Numbers 2017-2018
18th March 2019
We're delighted to share our Annual Report and our Year in Numbers for 2017-2018 with you
Partnership Schools Makes a Difference in the US
12th March 2019
Our Partnership Schools Scotland programme is modelled on the long-running and well-evidence success story Partnership Schools in the US. Read the latest reports from the US Partnership Schools project
We report on our parent survey about subject choices, which comprises our submission to the Education and Skills Committee
5th March 2019
We asked parents for their views/experiences of their child's subject choices in high school. The findings are in our report
Dr Janet Goodall, consultant for Connect, says that relationships are at the heart of effective parental engagement
4th March 2019
What is the most important factor for schools as they work on parent and family engagement to improve learning outcomes for children? Quality relationships
Listen to Connect's Eileen Prior on Radio EduTalk
27th February 2019
Connect's Executive Director Eileen Prior describes Connect's journey as an organisation
COSLA/Scottish Government Guidance on Musical Instrument Tuition is Published
26th February 2019
Guidance for local authorities is published - there are a few positives but there's still no clarity or national framework
Regional Improvement Collaboratives: What are they?
25th February 2019
Sara McFarlane, Connect's Executive Assistant, explains Regional Improvement Collaboratives
Connect asks: Where are parents in the recently-published Review of Personal and Social Education?
25th February 2019
It is crucial for parents and schools to work together to support children and young people. This Review fails to recognise this
Eileen Prior, Executive Director of Connect, calls for an end to the Named Person debacle
6th February 2019
The Scottish Government's working group charged with developing guidance on information-sharing has said it is not possible
Backchat 148 Spring 2019
30th January 2019
Read the latest edition of our termly newsletter for Connect Members here
Connect's Programme of Professional Learning for Spring 2019 is now available!
16th January 2019
We're running our three fantastic professional learning courses on family engagement in Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow - book now!
Connect's Snap Survey on Parent Groups' Experiences of Booking School Lets
14th January 2019
It is clear that some local authorities are exploiting the goodwill of parent groups, charging high booking fees for groups to use school premises for fundraising events
Connect's Submission to the Education & Skills Committee's Enquiry into the Scottish National Standardised Assessment
9th January 2019
Read our submission to the Scottish Parliament's Education & Skills Committee on Standardised Assessment
Dr Janet Goodall, author and academic, describes her passion for parental engagement in children's learning
8th January 2019
Connect interviews Dr Janet Goodall and asks her about what can be done to improve experiences for parents as they engage with schools and their children's learning
Connect's Transitions (Changes) Survey Report
7th January 2019
Times of change in children's school lives are very important and need to be well-handled
Connect News! Dr Janet Goodall and George Gilchrist join the Connect professional learning team!
28th December 2018
We're delighted to welcome Dr Janet Goodall and George Gilchrist to the Connect team
No Safe Place: Restraint and Seclusion in Scotland's Schools, Report by the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
17th December 2018
This hard-hitting report flags up the excessive use of restraint and seclusion in our schools
Connect's Submission to the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Inquiry on Young People's Mental Health Services
17th December 2018
Connect calls for improvements to provision as services are patchy, inadequately-funded and only available in some areas when young people are suicidal
Whatever Happened to the Scottish Government's Education Bill?
28th November 2018
The enormous Education Bill, with its many strands, has been published but will be delivered 'collaboratively' rather than through legislation
GDPR and your Parent Group - What You Can Still Do
28th November 2018
Don't let the General Data Protection Regulation get in the way of communicating with parents!
Developing the Young Workforce report finds progress is not fast enough
28th November 2018
The Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee has commissioned a report on the Developing the Young Workforce programme
Connect's AGM and Annual Lecture 2019
20th November 2018
Connect Members are warmly invited to join us for our AGM and Annual Lecture in Dundee on 14 March 2019
Connect asks parents and parent groups to think again about buying gifts for teachers
19th November 2018
Call to action! Connect campaigns with EIS and the Child Poverty Action Group, ask everyone to please think again about Christmas gifts for teachers!
Connect responds to the Scottish Government's Protecting Children review consultation
14th November 2018
Connect expresses concern about the implications of proposed changes
Scottish Parliament Education and Skills Committee Inquiry into Musical Instrument Tuition in Schools
1st November 2018
Read Connect's submission to the Committee, which includes the results of our survey on musical instrument tuition in schools
Education Secretary Announces Review into P1 Standardised National Assessments
26th October 2018
Connect comments on John Swinney's announcement of an independent review on P1 testing
Parents' Voice Survey Launched on Children and Young People's Transitions
22nd October 2018
Tell us about your child or young person's experience of change in the education system
Partnership Working to Support Mental Health
10th October 2018
On World Mental Health Day, Connect shares the excellent partnership work of Maisondieu Primary School in Angus to provide mental health support in their school community
Backchat 147 Autumn Issue
3rd October 2018
Read our latest newsletter - it's full of useful information about our current campaigns, our surveys and our services for Members
Cross party support for parliamentary motion calling for the P1 national tests to be scrapped
13th September 2018
Connect is pleased to see cross party support for the motion to scrap P1 tests
Connect's Response to the Scottish Government's Supporting Disabled Children, Young People and their Families resource consultation
12th September 2018
Connect doesn't mince words in this consultation response
Testing time for the Scottish Government
30th August 2018
Author and Upstart trustee Carol Craig gives her views on the issues surrounding the Scottish Government's Primary 1 Standardised National Assessments
Connect's response to the Scottish Government Consultation on Nutrition in Schools
29th August 2018
Our consultation sets out the results from our snap survey which asked parents for their views on proposals to improve nutritional standards in schools
Connect's response to the Scottish Government's Scottish National Standardised Assessments User Review: Stop the P1 tests!
28th August 2018
The Scottish Government's Review of the Scottish National Standardised Assessments sets up the problems with the SNSAs this year
Parent Councils - Top Tips for Welcoming New Families
28th August 2018
Parent Councils have a crucial role in welcoming new families to their school community - our top tips will help
Connect's new Inclusion and Equality leaflets and resources for parent groups
28th August 2018
Our new leaflets will help your Parent Council/PTA to consider inclusion, equality and fairness
Connect welcomes the Scottish Government's new Learning Together parental engagement Action Plan
21st August 2018
The Scottish Government's new Action Plan for parental engagement recognises parents as the first and foremost educators of their child
New for 2018-2019! Connect's Jargon Buster - A List of Terms Used in Scottish Education
20th August 2018
Let us help you unpick Scottish education jargon with our new guide
Connect supports Upstart Scotland's campaign to end National Standardised Assessments for Primary 1s
15th August 2018
Upstart Scotland has launched a postcard campaign to help parents who wish to opt their child out of the P1 national testing
Connect's parent survey findings on national testing of Primary 1 children
13th August 2018
Parents are not being kept informed about national testing of their P1 child, finds our survey
Health body highlights challenges facing young people experiencing poverty
19th July 2018
NHS Health Scotland has taken a look at multiple studies to explore how the environments children are born, grow and learn in can affect their educational outcomes. Our comment is here
Comment on the Education and Skills Committee's Inquiry into Attainment and Achievement of School Children Experiencing Poverty Report
12th July 2018
Connect comments on the Inquiry into Attainment and Achievement of School Children Experiencing Poverty Report by the Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee
Education Bill is published but is postponed in favour of collaborative working
27th June 2018
The Scottish Government is to focus on improvement, not reform and collaboration, not legislation
Connect responds to the Scottish Government Consultation on Early Years and Childcare Service Model for 2020, June 2018
26th June 2018
Connect says that care in a nurturing, loving environment is key for families of young children
New Safety Belts on School Transport legislation comes into effect on 1 August 2018
18th June 2018
From 1 August 2018, dedicated school transport in Scotland will have to be fitted with safety belts
Connect's Submission to the Education & Skills Committee on the Senior Phase: Finding the Right Pathways
12th June 2018
Connect's response sets out six recommendations
Connect's Eileen Prior champions Youth Awards
6th June 2018
Watch Eileen talking about the importance of Youth Awards to young people on YouTube
Connect Report: Parents' Voice Survey on Support for Families Facing Poverty and Free School Meals
4th June 2018
We report back on our survey which sought your views on, and experience of, support for families experiencing poverty and on free school meals
Connect support for Parent Councils/PTAs with GDPR
24th May 2018
Read our revised Privacy Policy and see our Data Protection Policy template and guidance here
Connect Report: Parents' Voice Anti-Bullying Survey with Respectme
24th May 2018
Our report on what parents told us about bullying in their children's schools and their understanding of it
Connect responds to the Education and Skills Committee Inquiry on the impact of poverty on Attainment and Achievement
26th March 2018
Our Parents' Voice survey findings informed our consultation response: all parents care about the impact of poverty on families' lives
Essential information for your parent group about General Data Protection Regulation
12th March 2018
Find out why the new General Data Protection Regulation is important to your Parent Council/PTA
Partnership Schools Year 2 Report
16th February 2018
Our Partnership Schools Year 2 report summarises our second year and sets out our findings
SPTC's Annual Report 2016-2017
12th January 2018
Read about our work during 2016-2017
National Improvement Framework Evidence Report 2017 is published
2nd January 2018
The Scottish Government's annual National Improvement Framework Evidence Report 2017 is now available; its findings determine 2018's priorities
Guest Blog: Why it’s Important to Know an Octopus Can Walk on Land
18th November 2017
This is a guest blog post from Dr Janet Goodall, an academic at Bath University whose research focuses on parental engagement
Connect's Eileen Prior blogs: Should Pupil Equity Funding be used for football?
6th November 2017
We kick back as an education 'insider' criticises the use of Pupil Equity Funding for 'keepie-up sessions'