Parent Portal

Criomagan Gàidhlig is a new weekly online get-together for parents who want to get a taste of Gaelic.

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Vitamin D Guidance – Scottish Government

Introduction

In Scotland, it is important that people maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D has a number of important functions and is needed to support bone and muscle health.

Our main source of vitamin D is sunlight. In Scotland, we only get enough of the right kind of sunlight for our bodies to make vitamin D between April and September, mostly between 11 am and 3 pm. From October to March, we need to rely on dietary sources of vitamin D. Since vitamin D is found only in a small number of foods, it might be difficult to get enough from foods that naturally contain vitamin D and/or fortified foods alone.

Good food sources are oily fish and eggs. Other food sources include fortified foods such as breakfast cereals and spreads. 

Our advice

Everyone (including children) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D, particularly during the winter months (October – March). It is specifically recommended that groups at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency take a daily supplement all year round. These groups include:

• all pregnant and breastfeeding women
• infants and children under 5 years old
• people who have low or no exposure to the sun, for example, those who cover their skin for cultural reasons, are housebound, confined indoors for long periods or live in an institution 
• people from minority ethnic groups with dark skin such as those of African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin, who require more sun exposure to make as much vitamin D

The current guidance on sun exposure should be followed: 10–15 minutes of unprotected Scottish sun exposure is safe for all. Once sunscreen is correctly applied, vitamin D synthesis is blocked. Staying in the sun for prolonged periods without the protection of sunscreen increases the risk of skin cancer.

Further guidance for babies, young children and pregnant women

Babies and young children

• breastfed babies from birth to 1 year of age should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D to make sure they get enough
• formula-fed babies shouldn’t be given a vitamin D supplement until they’re having less than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula is fortified with vitamin D
• children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D

You can buy vitamin D supplements or vitamin drops containing vitamin D (for under 5s) at most pharmacies and supermarkets. Please don’t buy more than you need.

Read advice and support for parents to follow the recommendation for infants from birth to 6 months.

Read further information at:

Vitamin D: advice for all age groups – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Sleep Scotland is the UK’s longest-established children’s sleep charity. We promote healthy sleep for children and young people across the country.

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Information about education in Scotland and ideas to help parents support their children’s learning. Includes choosing a school, the curriculum, parent councils etc…. 

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Care and Learning Alliance

Visit the CALA site on useful information and guidance. Click here

NSPCC

From setting up parental controls to advice on sexting, online games and video apps, this useful site from NSPCC  can help you to understand the risks and keep your child safe. Click here to access

Play information, ideas and resources for parents, carers and families to feel more confident and able to facilitate play opportunities in and around their homes.

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Action for Happiness

Action for Happiness state:

“We are a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society. We want to see a fundamentally different way of life – where people care less about what they can get just for themselves and more about the happiness of others.

Click here to access more information and their resources.

Information on physical distancing for children from Parent Club

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From Education Scotland:

Here you will find a range of ideas and suggestions of activities to help parents and carers support their child’s learning at home. The activities are aimed at a variety of ages and we will be adding new activities each week. Choose an activity from the list that your children would like to do. Our weekly newsletter for parents and carers also has additional ideas, hints and tips and links to other useful resources

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Bookbug

The Bookbug book gifting programme gives every child four free packs of books between birth and primary 1, without any need to register. It also runs free song and rhymes sessions in libraries and community centres across Scotland.

Check out their website for information, guidance and resources to use with your child.

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1. Leaflet explaining the Child’s Plan, part of the Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) framework. Click here

From Education Scotland:

Here you will find a range of ideas and suggestions of activities to help parents and carers support their child’s learning at home. The activities are aimed at a variety of ages and we will be adding new activities each week. Choose an activity from the list that your children would like to do. Our weekly newsletter for parents and carers also has additional ideas, hints and tips and links to other useful resources

Click here to access

Click here to learn about the 16 different types of play

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Just Ask – Highland Children and Young People’s Allied Health Professionals (AHP)

This enquiry line is for our parents, carers, children, young people, and those who work with them.

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