What we will do for Children and Families

What we will do for Children and Families
What we will do for Communities and Older People | What we will do for the Economy
What we will do to make the Council more Effective and Efficient
What we will do for our Environment

Investing in Our Schools

The Highland Council has warmly welcomed news that Wick High School is to attract significant funding from the Scottish Government. The school is one of 14 secondary schools in Scotland to attract funding in recognition of its condition and suitability, which were highlighted in the Council's annual report on the condition of its school estate to the Scottish Government.

The Council recently commissioned a technical feasibility study into the major upgrade of the school and architects, LDN, from Forres, are examining three options, which comprise (a) a new build; (b) refurbishment, partial demolition and new build and (c) refurbishment.

Meanwhile, the Council is upgrading a number schools through our capital programme. Lochaber High School is currently undergoing a major upgrade and significant sums have been spent on extensions to Grantown Grammar and Nairn Academy and improvements to Kingussie High, Plockton High, Thurso High and Kilchuimen Primary and Tomnacross Primary. New primary schools are planned at Aviemore, Lochaline and Milton of Leys, Inverness, and Conon Bridge/Maryburgh.

Acharacle's Sustainable School

The village of Acharacle on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula is home to the country's most innovative and sustainable school . Acharacle - a pilot new sustainable school for Scotland with very low energy requirements - has its walls and roof made from `Brettstapel' - a form of glue-free timber construction. This, alongside the highly airtight nature of the building, means that the heat from the children, staff and computers helps to keep the school warm.

Other key features of the school, which opened to pupils in May, include a wind turbine to provide energy for hot water for classrooms and toilets, the use of highly efficient energy appliances to reduce electricity consumption and innovative construction of the classrooms and hall ceilings to improve acoustics.

New Highland Youth Convener

Magnus Monahan (18) from Spinningdale, Sutherland, is the new full-time Highland Youth Convener. Magnus is the sounding board for youth issues in the Highlands and will have a direct line into policy makers and decision takers. He is a member of The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee, with full voting powers.

Magnus,who attended Dornoch Academy, is based at the Council's Inverness headquarters but will also work with partner agencies. His post extends until September 2010. He said: "This post provides an excellent opportunity for me to make a difference to young people in the Highlands.

I hope to continue to improve Highland Youth Voice and I'm also keen to build up links between the wide variety of communities within the Highlands."

Getting it Right for Every Child

The Highland Council and NHS Highland have welcomed the publication of research undertaken by Edinburgh University for the Scottish Government, confirming that new ways of working in Highland have demonstrated real benefits for children. Getting it right for every child is Scotland's reform programme for children's services. Highland is the first authority to implement the programme across education, health, social work, police and voluntary sector organisations.

The research identifies that significant improvements have already taken place:

• Families feel `one team' is supporting them and their children, rather than lots of different teams. They are more involved in finding solutions to their needs and have a better understanding of what is happening, when and why.
• Earlier and more appropriate intervention has meant that the rate of children being placed on the child protection register has fallen by half.
• Better quality information is being collected, shared and understood across the various local agencies, creating better trust among staff. Less time is being spent writing reports on the same children and families no longer need to keep repeating their stories to different staff.

Highland Foster Carers

Following a successful Care Commission inspection in November last year, the Council announced funding of an additional £420,000 to further enhance its fostering service and implement the Scottish Government's national strategy for foster care and kinship care.

This package includes:

• An increase in fees worth £40/week for all foster carers;
• Funding for computers and communications systems for foster carers;
• New on-line training resources; and
• Continued commitment for Highland's kinship carer support service.

Anyone wishing to find out more about becoming a Foster Carer can telephone 01463 703 431 or email fostering@highland.gov.uk for an information pack.