7 h. ago Positive feedback for Livingston primary school following inspection

The inspection team spent time at Harrysmuir Primary in November last year and during their visit, they talked to parents/carers and children, and worked closely with the headteacher and staff.

Politics

7 h. ago Joe Wicks on protein, his controversial ‘Killer’ documentary, fatherhood and phone addiction

On the latest episode of The Independent’s Well Enough podcast, host Emilie Lavinia is joined by the nation’s PE teacher, Joe Wicks. Six years after he exploded onto the fitness scene during Covid, solidifying himself as the UK’s guide to huffing-and-puffing in the living room, Wicks has added many feathers to his bow. He’s written multiple books and created a controversial Channel 4 documentary on Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs). In this episode, he reflects on the fallout from his ‘Killer’ bar experiment, being a phone-free dad, and explains how everyone can decomplicate protein and still hit their nutrition goals.

Events

10 h. ago Mother climbs down side of building to rescue children from burning home in South Korea

‘A parent’s concern for their children must have outweighed everything else in that urgent moment,’ a firefighter was quoted as saying

Events

10 h. ago Beckham family estrangement is neither rare nor unique, say therapists

Family splits are more common than people realise and are typically caused by abuse, new partners and differing beliefsFamily therapists say they typically come across three reasons why parents and children become estranged: abuse, new partners, and irreconcilable differences over morals, values and beliefs.At least two of these were evident in the Beckhams’ highly publicised family feud, which culminated in Brooklyn Beckham’s scathing Instagram post this week announcing his estrangement. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago ‘You don’t need to obsess over protein and calories’: Joe Wicks on beating the UPF trap and decomplicating food

Protein bars might be booming, but Joe Wicks argues the real fix for our UPF-fuelled snacking culture is far simpler: cook more. Hannah Twiggs breaks down why he says we don’t need to obsess over macros – just meals

Politics

14 h. ago As I navigated the hazy days of early parenting, voice messages from friends kept me afloat | Samantha Allemann

A phone call feels impossible amid the busyness of motherhood, but a quick voice note? That I can manageSharing the Load is a column about parenting children of all agesMy friend Sevil and I met up recently, where we sat and talked for three hours. Neither of us are strangers to hanging out in bars, but this time the meeting felt luxurious; it was face-to-face social interaction! On my walk home, I sent her a voice note, she sent me one back, and we continued to do so the next day.I remember when my mum would ask teenage me, “what do you still have to talk about?” after I’d return from school and make a beeline for the phone to call my bestie who I’d seen 20 minutes prior. Laying on my parents’ bed next to our landline, I’d twirl the cord as my friend and I would chat, before my brothers barged in and told me to get off so they could use the internet. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Principal defends suspension of 19 boys after 'toxic masculinity' assembly

The principal of Laurelhill Community College has defended her decision to suspend 19 boys at the school following an outcry from parents and children at the school

Politics

27 h. ago ‘Children make mistakes’, David Beckham says after Brooklyn post

Comments come day after son publicly aired grievances and said he had no interest in reconciling with familyDavid Beckham has said parents must let their children “make mistakes” just a day after his son Brooklyn publicly aired his grievances with his family in an Instagram post that drew global media attention.Brooklyn, 26, made a host of claims regarding the former England footballer and his wife, the singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Sir David Beckham says parents must let children ‘make mistakes’

Brooklyn made a host of claims regarding Sir David and his wife, singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, on Monday evening.

Society

33 h. ago Afraid of dying alone? How a Chinese app exposed single people’s deepest, darkest fears

In China, marriage and birth rates have hit record lows and many people are living in isolation. Is the Are You Dead? app just a practical response to this – or something more troubling?A few days before Christmas, after a short battle with illness, a woman in Shanghai called Jiang Ting died. For years, the 46-year-old had lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Hongkou, a residential neighbourhood that sits along the Huangpu River. Neighbours described her as quiet. “She rarely chats with people. We only see her when she goes to and from work, and occasionally when she comes out to pick up takeout,” said a local resident interviewed by a Chinese reporter. Her parents long deceased, Jiang had no partner or children to inherit her estate. Her lonely death sparked a debate in Chinese media about how society should handle the increasing number of people dying with no next of kin.For Xiong Sisi, also a professional in her 40s living alone in Shanghai, the news triggered uncomfortable feelin...

Events

58 h. ago Bank of mum and dad to the rescue as more than half of struggling university students get £200 per month towards living costs

A growing number of parents are feeling the financial strain from their children's studies, with students now choosing to live at home or work a part-time job.

Economics

59 h. ago Bank of mum and dad to the rescue as more than half of struggling university students get £200 towards living costs

A growing number of parents are feeling the financial strain from their children's studies, with students now choosing to live at home or work a part-time job.

Economics

3 d. ago Councils are offering parents £5,000 to drive their children to school amid desperate efforts to cut spiralling SEND taxi bills

Local authorities are increasingly turning to 'personal transport budgets' as a more flexible and cost-effective option than laying on taxis or minibuses.

Economics

3 d. ago Parents paid up to £5,000 a year to drive children to school as councils slash taxi bills

Number of families given cash for special needs transport doubles as local authorities battle soaring costs

Economics

3 d. ago Mum speaks out about 'deeply painful' court hearing as group of parents sue TikTok over children's deaths

'For the court, this is about motions and procedures. For us, it is about our children. Our dead children'

Events

3 d. ago Record number of baby girls aborted by Indian parents in the UK due to preference for male children

Hundreds of pregnancies have been terminated on the basis of sex in the past four years - despite Government advice explicitly stating it is against the law.

Society

5 d. ago British parents fighting TikTok in US courts over 'blackout challenge' deaths of their children say social media giants must be held accountable

Ellen Roome, the mother of 14-year-old Jools Sweeney who passed away in 2022, appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning as she and the other parents prepare for the first hearing.

Events

5 d. ago Heartbroken mum left 'terrified of water' after daughter's tragic sea death

A heartbroken mum who tragically lost her daughter has sent an urgent warning to other parents to be honest with their children about the dangers of water

Events

7 d. ago Multiple pupils 'beaten and stamped on' in school horror clips as one 'slammed into sink'

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Footage has emerged online showing pupils being attacked at an Edinburgh school, with parents raising serious safety concerns about their children

Events

8 d. ago Children born in 2020s spending double the recommended time on screens, study warns

Researchers say toddlers who spend more time watching screens score lower on vocabulary tests

Events