Reports
In this section you will find reports which may be of interest in respect of your work with young people who are disengaged or disaffected from school.
- Behaviour
- Schools
- Families
- Substance misuse
- Mental health
- Young people looked after
- Young people’s voices
- Children’s services
- Additional support
Behaviour
In this section you will find reports into young people, challenging behaviour and recommendations for policy and practice.
Young peoples experience of, and solutions to, identity related bullying
This new Barnardos report looks at young peoples experience of bullying – not just those bullied, but also young people who bully and those who witness bullying in day to day life.
Rewarding young people for pro-social behaviour
There is growing recognition that young people are often unfairly demonised in current debates about anti-social behaviour. This study looks at two projects in Bradford and York that aimed to promote and reward the positive contributions young people could make to their communities.
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Mapping the alternatives to permanent exclusion
This study investigates the programmes provided for young people permanently excluded, or at risk of permanent exclusion from school.
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School exclusions: Learning partnerships outside mainstream education
This study describes how mentors and teachers work with students who have been permanently excluded from school, taking into account poverty and multiple disadvantage.
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Working Together to Improve School Discipline: Discipline Stakeholder Group Joint Action Plan
The Scottish Government has published an action plan for discipline in schools. The plan has been agreed by the Discipline Stakeholder Group (DSG), made up of the Scottish Government, teaching unions (EIS, SSTA, HAS, AHDS, NASUWT, and PAT), the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, General Teaching Council for Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and advised by HMIE.
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Schools
In this section you will find reports highlighting the Scottish Government’s vision of the future of Scotland’s Education and also evaluations of recent school developments.
New! – Teachers in Scotland 2007
The latest data on teachers in publicly funded schools in Scotland, derived from the annual staff census which took place in September 2007.
New! – SQA Attainment and School Leaver Qualifications in Scotland: 2006/07
This statistics publication notice presents information on the attainment of National Qualifications by pupils attending publicly funded secondary schools.
New! – The Task Ahead: Youth Work and Schools
In November 2007, YMCA hosted a national conference in Edinburgh inviting selected stakeholders who play a key role in the development of Youth Work and Schools. This document provides a summary of the main issues emerging from the conference and outlines the task ahead in developing Youth Work and Schools.
New! – Health Behaviour of School Aged Children
This report presents data on adolescent health from the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative cross-national Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study in Scotland. The study aims to gain new insight into, and increase our understanding of young people's health and well-being, health behaviours and their social context.
New! – Evaluation of Skills for Work Pilot Courses: Final Report
The overarching purpose of this research was to undertake a process evaluation of the SfW pilot courses in order to inform the roll-out of these courses.
New! – A Review of Sex Education in Scottish Schools
This review highlights key findings from a multi-method study of Sex and Relationship Education Programmes in Scottish secondary schools. This includes: a systematic review of review of the literature; interviews with key informants in Scotland; a postal survey of all secondary schools; and staff interviews in a sample of six secondary schools with their feeder primaries.
New! – Measures of Success
This Scottish Funding Council document reports on their progress –and progress made by others – in widening participation to further and higher education in Scotland
Pupils in Scotland 2007
Results of the annual pupil census in publicly funded schools in Scotland.
Exclusions from Schools 2006/07
Statistics on exclusions from Scottish schools in the academic year 2006/07
Group Work: Transition into Secondary
This report presents the findings of a study consisting of 2 projects concerning primary to secondary transitions and the use of group work.
Skills for Scotland: A Life Long Strategy
This Strategy is a framework to show how all of the constituent parts of Scotland’s education and learning systems can contribute to giving Scotland a skills base that is world class.
Education and Child Poverty: A literature review
This literature review explores how education can contribute to ending child poverty..
Happy, safe and achieving their potential: a standard of support for children and young people in Scottish schools
Report of the National Review of Guidance, providing a framework for the development of personal support in Scottish schools.
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Families
Working effectively with young people and their families can often have a positive impact on their experience of school. In this section you will find reports about the complex issues some families deal with.
New! – Improving Services to Protect Children: How Good Are We at Assessing Risks and Needs to Help Children and Families?
Services and staff who have responsibilities for protecting children from abuse and neglect can use this guide to help self-evaluate and improve the services provided. The guide helps users to recognise how good are we now? and identify what needs to be done to decide how good can we be?.
New! – Improving Services to Protect Children: How Good Are We at Sharing and Recording Information to Help Children and Families?
Services and staff working who have responsibilities for protecting children from abuse and neglect can use this guide to help self-evaluate and improve the services provided. The guide helps users to recognise how good are we now? and identify what needs to be done to decide how good can we be?.
New! – Estimating the Cost of Child Poverty in Scotland – Approaches and Evidence
This paper considers evidence indicating the cost to the public purse of having one in
five of Scotland’s million children in poverty. Its central aim is to give an idea how much
public money would be saved by improving the economic situation of these children.
New! – Growing Up In Scotland Study: GUS Exploring The Experience and Outcomes For Advantaged and Disadvantaged Families
This report draws on data from the first sweep of the Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study. The Sweep 1 Report highlighted the persistence of inequalities between advantaged and disadvantaged families which impact on parents and their children.
New! – Growing Up In Scotland Study: Use of Informal Support by Families with Young Children
This report, which draws on data from the first sweep of the Growing Up in Scotland study, starts from the position that in order to understand the types of formal support services that parents of young children require.
New! – The impact of benefit and tax uprating on incomes and poverty
Each year, the Government decides how much to raise benefits and tax allowances. The basis for these upratings is rarely debated, yet has major long-term consequences for the relative living standards of different groups and for public finances.
Recent changes in intergenerational mobility in Britain
This report investigates recent changes in social mobility by considering relationships between intermediate outcomes (degree attainment, test scores and non-cognitive abilities) and parental income for cohorts born between 1970 and 2000.
Running: Other Choices Refuge Evaluation
This report focuses on Running - Other Choices (ROC) which provides a service to children and young people who have run away, or been forced to leave home, and specifically examines the development and operation of a residential refuge as part of this service.
Getting it right for every child in kinship and foster care
This strategy considers what needs to be in place to provide a truly child-centred response and approach to the provision of foster and kinship care. It addresses the improvements that can be made to the quality assurance systems that govern these types of care.
The Reality of Child Poverty in Scotland
In Scotland there are 250,000 children living in poverty – this is one in four of our young people - this at a time when the Scottish economy steadily grows. Whilst some considerable progress has been made in tackling poverty across Scotland, that progress is not fast enough.
Evaluation of Children 1st Direction Project
New research has been published which evaluates the CHILDREN 1ST Directions Projects in the west of Scotland and concludes that early, targeted family support can bring real results for children and their families.
1 in 9, The Scottish Coalition for Young Runaways
This study was undertaken to examine responses to young people in Scotland
who run away from home or substitute care. The study, commissioned by 1 in 9, The Scottish Coalition for Young Runaways, originated from concerns about the
experiences of young people who run away or are forced to leave where they live and aimed to find out more about the responses currently in place to address the needs of these young people.
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It Doesn’t Happen Here: The Reality of Child Poverty in Scotland
Barnardo’s Scotland, May 2007
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Index of Wellbeing for Children in Scotland
Barnardos Scotland has published its first edition of Index of Wellbeing for Children in Scotland (IWCS). The purpose of the index is to attempt to put the position of Scotland’s children into an international perspective
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Additional support
In this section you will find reports which are relevant to working with young people with additional support needs.
New! - Commissioning Services for People on the Autism Spectrum: Policy and Practice Guidance
Policy and practice guidance for commissioners of health and social care services for people on the autism spectrum.
Going the Extra Mile: An Evaluation of a Residential Unit for Younger
Children provided by Aberlour Sycamore Service
This is a report of an evaluation undertaken for Aberlour Child Care Trust
(Aberlour) and Sycamore Services of a residential service (the Unit) for
children aged 5 to 11 years.
A life less ordinary: A guide to autism
Although essentially a beginner’s guide to autism for donors and funders, New Philanthropy Capital’s report also highlights the uphill battle to invest in autism services and research. For example, Only £3.70 per head is spent annually on research for each of the 540,000 people with autism in the UK.
Literature Review of Current Approaches to the Provision of Education for Children with Dyslexia
The focus of the present investigation, commissioned by HM Inspectors of Education, has a wide scope, including the nature, causes, diagnosis, and various forms of treatment based on different underpinning theories and philosophies.
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ADHD –Services over Scotland
The aim of the exercise was to find out what services are available across Scotland for children and young people with ADHD and how these services are planned and delivered.
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More Choices, More Chances: A Strategy to Reduce the Proportion of Young People not in Education, Employment or Training in Scotland
The NEET Strategy, More Choices, More Chances is an action plan to reduce the proportion of young people not in education employment or training in Scotland.
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Young people looked after
This section gives guidance and recommendations for improving the school experience of young people who are accommodated by the local authority.
New! – Sweet 16? The Age of Leaving Care in Scotland
This report by Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People examines the law, policy and practice on the age of leaving care for young people in Scotland. The Commissioner was shocked to learn that young people were still expected to leave care at 16 or 17 when they are not ready to face the challenges this presents.
Review of research on vulnerable young people and their transition to independent living
The overall aims of the review were to support developments in policy, practice and joint working by mapping research in two areas: transitions out of care settings and housing issues.
Aberlour Residential Child Care Briefing
A briefing on residential child care in Scotland with an outline of the work Aberlour is doing in this area and some of the key issues Aberlour believes needs addressing.
Secure Accommodation Statistics 2006-07
This Scottish Government publication presents secure accommodation statistics for the year 2006-07. Information on young people in secure accommodation is included.
Residential Care and Education: Improving Practice in Residential Special Schools and Secure Care Accommodation Services in Scotland
The aim of the guide is to provide practical support for evaluating and improving the quality of provision and to promote excellence. It is for all residential schools and secure care services.
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Looked After Children and Young People: We Can and Must Do Better
This report is intended for everyone who is concerned with looked after children and young people and their families. The main impetus behind the report is the desire to see a step change in outcomes for looked after children and young people.
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No Time to Lose: A manifesto for children and young people looked after away from home
This manifesto has been drawn up by: Aberlour Child Care Trust, the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), the Fostering Network, the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC), the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum and Who Cares? Scotland.
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Celebrating Success: What Helps Looked After Children succeed
The aim of the study was to understand from people who have experienced being looked after, what helped them become and feel successful - To listen to those who had gone on to experience success in their lives, and to find out what they felt made a difference.
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Extraordinary Lives
Creating a positive future for looked after children and young people in Scotland.
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Mental health
In this section you will find reports detailing the experiences of young people dealing with mental health issues and also recommendations in respect of best practice.
New! – Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: Consultation Responses
'Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland' discussion document was put forward as a consultation to determine the future direction of mental health improvement for 2008-11, focusing on what Local Authorities, NHS Boards and other key stakeholders can do to support the agenda.
NCH Briefing: Young people growing strong – the role of positive structured activities
This briefing paper looks considers young people's emotional wellbeing and the role of structured positive activities.
Mental Health and Child Poverty
This study examines the impact on child poverty of mental illness among parents and carers.
NCH Briefing: Emotional Well Being and Social Mobility
New research from NCH shows that the importance of emotional well being in determing social mobility is rising rapidly
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NCH Literature review: Resilience and Children and young people
This report discusses the definition of resilience, what research tells us about the nature of resilience, and the implications for provision of services to improve outcomes
for children and young people.
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NCH Literature review: The Emotional Harm and Well Being of Children
This new report discusses the issue of emotional harm and its impact on the well being of children.
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National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well Being: Young People’s Views of Mental Health Education in Secondary Schools
A report into young people’s views of mental health education provided at secondary schools.
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Only Connect: Addressing the emotional needs of Scotland’s Children and Young People
This is the report of the survey of professionals carried out as part of the second phase of the SNAP Assessment of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Needs in Scotland.
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Substance misuse
In this section you will find reports outlining the experiences of young people and their families affected by substance misuse. Reports in this section also offer guidance about delivering services to young people affected by substance misuse.
New! - Essential Care: A Report on the Approach required to maximise Opportunity for Recovery from Problem Substance Use in Scotland
The majority of this report is concerned with support that is needed to address problems in areas of drug service users’ lives other than addiction, such as general health, mental health and social skills and relationships.
Evaluation of Aberlour Dundee Outreach Service
The stated aim of the Dundee Outreach service is to reduce the impact of problem parental substance use on children and their families. The service works with parents (usually mothers) of children up to age 16, who have been identified as having a drug or alcohol problem. The service also works directly with children.
Aberlour Children Affected by Parental Substance Misuse Briefing
A briefing on children affected by parental substance use in Scotland with an outline of the work Aberlour is doing in this area and some of the key issues Aberlour believes needs addressing.
The impact of heavy cannabis use on young people's lives
This research explored the impact of heavy cannabis use on the lives of young people.
Hidden harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children? Working with Parents
"Hidden Harm" vividly describes the situation of many children and young people living in substance misusing households. They often suffer in silence; they are often not known to services; they often do not know to whom they can turn for help; and the impact of poor parenting on them can have long-lasting and devastating effects. "Hidden Harm - Next Steps" focuses on action by the Executive, statutory and voluntary sector partners. (SE 2006).
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Have we got out priorities right?
A report on the debate of the Think Tank brought together by Aberlour, in partnership with the Drug Action Team Association, to examine and debate responses to children affected by parental drug and alcohol use. (Aberlour 2006).
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Children’s services
In this section you will find reports outlining the move toward better integrated children’s services and improved partnership working.
New! - Early Years and Early Intervention: A joint Scottish Government and COSLA policy statement
This document sets out a joint approach to early years and early intervention by the Scottish government and COSLA. It describes how early years and early intervention support the purpose and national performance framework, and proposes a list of tasks to be taken forward as part of the early years framework.
New! - The United Nations Convention on the Rights of The Child (UNCRC) Explained:
A report for over 12’s on progress being made in Scotland to implement the UNCRC.
New! - Are we there yet? A report for under 12s about children's rights in Scotland
A report for under 12s about progress being made in Scotland to implement the UNCRC.
New! - The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A guide for children and young people
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A guide for children and young people
Developing Competence: Early and Mid Career in Community Learning and Development
The aim of this research, commissioned from the University of Edinburgh, has been to contribute to, and support, the early career development and continuing professional development of CLD practitioners through an investigation of practice and to contribute to theories of informal and non-formal learning.
Making a Difference in Scotland’s Communities: A Five Year Review of Community Learning and Development in Scotland
The intention of this report is to illustrate good practice and identify areas for development as a means of assisting local authorities and their community planning partners to secure further improvements.
The Child at the Centre
The third part in the HMIe Journey to Excellence series is made up of the revised editions of The Child at the Centre and How good is our school? They are based on a revised framework of indicators which help you to work out where your early education centre is in improving its quality and aiming for excellence.
Adults' attitudes towards contact with children and young people
While young people in Scotland consistently call for more activities, there is a shortage of adults prepared to take both work and volunteering roles with them. Research commissioned by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People (SCCYP) found that the number one deterrent is the fear of being accused of harming young people.
Moving Forward: a Strategy for Improving Young People’s Chances through Youth Work
This report outlines the new national youth work strategy.
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Young people’s voices
In this section you will find reports which specifically highlight the experiences and opinions of young people who are disengaged or disaffected from school.
New! – ‘Step inside our shoes’ Young people’s views on gun and knife crime
As part of NCH’s Growing Strong campaign consulted with children and young people on gun and knife crime – how they are affected by it, why they think it happens and what they think the solutions might be.
Being Young in Scotland 2007
The third bi-annual YouthLink Scotland report which asked 2500 young people aged 11-25 what it’s like being young in Scotland is now available. In what is widely regarded as the biggest census of young people’s opinion in years, the findings offer an in-depth insight into how young Scots feel about themselves, the communities in which they live and the world around them. For information about obtaining a copy of the report please contact ssymington@youthlink.co.uk or phone 0131 313 2488.
Children and Young People's Concerns about their Sexual Health and Well-being
A Scottish Executive funded study conducted by CRFR and Childline Scotland on the concerns of children and young people on their own sexual health and wellbeing.
Not Seen. Not Heard. Not Guilty
This report published by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People (SCCYP), shows that an estimated 13,500 children in Scotland are affected at any one time by the imprisonment of a parent. Their rights and interests are rarely taken into account, and the problem is likely to worsen as the number of prisoners – particularly women – increases.
Experiences of poverty and educational disadvantage
This study summarises the messages from the first eight projects in the JRF's Education and Poverty programme and looks at the experiences of children from different backgrounds and their attitudes to education.
Attachment to place, social networks, mobility and prospects of young people
This study explores how young people's attitudes towards education, training and work opportunities are shaped by their social networks and attachment to place, and looks at how interventions might widen their horizons and improve their prospects.
Learning to Read a New Culture: How Immigrant and Asylum Seeking Children Experience Scottish Identity through Classroom Books
Web Only Research Report in the Education Sponsored Research Series
Children researching links between poverty and literacy
This study examines education and poverty from children's own perspective, focusing on reading and writing proficiency as a potential route out of poverty.
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