Articles in the February 2010 issue

Guarantees for pupils and parents - is Scotland losing out? (full text available on members‘ pages)

The Children, Schools and Families Bill currently before Westminster parliament promises England more powers for parents and pupils; more freedoms for schools; and clearer accountability for all. Lisa Payne, Principal Policy Officer of the National Children's Bureau and Marion Mcleod, Children in Scotland's Senior Policy Officer, looked at the Bill for us.

Apartheid left a political legacy that makes South Africa one of the most unequal countries in the world. In a new publication from Children in Scotland, Helen Penn looks at what we can learn from the African experience

Adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child marks a turning point in the perception of children in international law and policy, but making the treaty a reality can be a journey full of pitfalls. Afua Twum-Danso explores the progress of the Convention in Ghana, which was the first country to ratify it in January 1990

Every working parent recognises the scenario: juggling the demands of job and family so each get the best you can offer, walking the tightrope of variable childcare provision in the hope nothing unexpected will knock all that careful planning into the proverbial cocked hat. Sally Cavers gives us one mother's personal perspective

Nowhere has felt the impact of changing work patterns and service provision more keenly than rural areas, as traditional jobs decline and life becomes centred on cities. Weronika Pli ska looks at the effects on one Polish village

A Barbie laptop or Dr Who sonic screwdriver is all it takes to have a happy, contented and well-adjusted child, or so the advertisers would have us believe. Agnes Nairn looks at the place of branding in the marketing of children's toys, games and entertainment – and asks why we're all paying the price

It may not always be apparent on the surface, but traumatic events can have a major impact on a child's capacity to benefit from their learning opportunities. Teachers need to be aware, says Jane Carmichael

Bamboo, a machete and lots of goodwill can be all it takes to transform a play space. Theresa Casey describes how a whole community got involved when four Scottish playworkers visited Thailand

They may be based in Leith, but one vibrant youth bnd has its sights set firmly on conquering the world, as Lynn Gilmour finds

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