Youth Work & Schools

Please see below for information and guidance for youth workers and organisations working in partnership with schools.

Where you were delivering in partnership with a school:

Ideally, keep young people’s learning in one place - use the school’s online platform such as GLOW/Microsoft Teams/Office 365, to continue delivering support and learning that would normally be part of a young person’s curriculum in school.
Other platforms such as Skype or Zoom can be used to keep in touch with young people and deliver informal learning. See also our information on digital youth work and learning.
Work with schools to reach out to young people who may be struggling with learning at home – how could you support the curriculum for these young people?
Consider how you could adapt any Youth Awards you were delivering for home learning. See Awards Network for more info.
Reach out to Youth Awards providers – many are developing and adapting resources for home learning. See examples from Boys' Brigade and Scouts below.
Work with school colleagues to support young people who may be concerned about the cancellation of SQA exams.
Let schools know how you are reconfiguring your service to support young people and enable them to signpost young people.

A statement on behalf of the youth work sector in Scotland

Developed with the Youth Work COVID-19 Recovery Group, this document outlines the planned approach to the delivery of youth work with children and young people through and out of each phase of lockdown.

COVID-19 Education Recovery: Youth work – A Guide for Schools

Developed with the Youth Work COVID-19 Recovery Group, this document explains how youth work can help schools to close the poverty-related attainment gap and improve outcomes for all children and young people.

SQA statement on coursework for national courses

SQA has released an update on how COVID-19 will affect pupils across Scotland, including exams and how final grades will be determined.

UCAS statement

UCAS has released guidance on the status of offers for university places impacted by COVID-19.

Find out more.

Education Scotland resources for practitioners

Education Scotland has a number of useful resources to support practitioners in developing online opportunities for learning at home. The resources will be supplemented as time goes on.

Find out more.

Young Scot learning resources

Young Scot has created some learning resources to support home learning/education around COVID-19 and other relevant information topics for young people.

Find out more.

Parenting Across Scotland

Parenting Across Scotland has pulled together a rich resource of links and educational resources to help support learning at home during COVID-19.

Find out more.

Science resources for community groups

British Science Association has a web page dedicated to activity packs designed especially for community groups and families.

Find out more.

Learning at Home briefing paper

The Commission on School Reform has published a briefing paper to help recruit 'an army of tutors' to help school pupils during the school shut down.

Find out more.

Digital resources for libraries

The Scottish Library and Information Council has produced a digital hub packed with learning resources, including a dedicated section for children and young people.

Find out more.

#YouthWorkAtHome

Boys Brigade #BBatHOME

Boys Brigade has launched a new programme of fun and exciting activities with opportunities for children and young people to learn, grow and discover in their own homes supported by parents/carers.

Find out more.

Girlguiding #AdventuresAtHome

A resource filled with activities and ideas from the Girlguiding programme to keep young girls engaged and entertained during COVID-19.

Find out more.

John Muir Award

There are a number of adapted resources available for home learning and development centred around learning through nature and its applications for the Curriculum for Excellence.

Download the literacy and nature pack.

Download session guidance.

Prince's Trust Education Resources

Helpful online resources from Prince's Trust's Achieve and Mosaic programmes for teachers, tutors and parents to deliver and share with young people.

Find out more.

Saltire Awards

Young people aged 12 to 25 can sign up to ensure that their volunteering is
recorded, celebrated and reward with nationally recognised certificates.

Find out more.

Scouts #TheGreatIndoors

Scouts has pulled together some inspired indoor activity ideas. Keep your kids learning new skills and having fun (and avoid hearing ‘I’m bored’ every 30 seconds) all in #TheGreatIndoors.

Find out more.

Youth Scotland DYA and Hi5 Awards

Youth Scotland has adapted its Hi5 and Dynamic Youth Award (DYA) challenge sheets to be completed at home.

Download challenge sheets.