Over the past few months at Sleep Action, I’ve found myself reflecting a lot on how something as simple and as essential as sleep shapes the lives of children and young people across Scotland. In September 2026, we launched our Manifesto ahead of this year’s Holyrood election, calling for something I believe in deeply: Making sleep a core part of the school curriculum.
As the UK’s leading sleep charity, we see every day just how closely sleep is tied to children’s mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Yet despite its importance, sleep education is missing from the Curriculum for Excellence. That absence of sleep education matters. Sleep impacts attendance, learning, resilience, and how confidently young people navigate the challenges of growing up.
By giving sleep a place in our classrooms, Scotland has a real opportunity to be a leader on the world stage. Sleep education will empower every child and young person with the knowledge and confidence to understand their sleep – how it changes, how to look after it, and how good habits can support them for life. Better sleep means healthier, happier families, improved learning outcomes, and less pressure on our already stretched NHS and other services. It’s a simple change with extraordinary potential.
Recognising Sleep as a Public Health Priority
In October, we had a milestone moment. Monica Lennon MSP submitted a motion to Parliament recognising healthy sleep as a fundamental pillar of public health. Importantly, the motion encouraged the Scottish Government to embed sleep health at the heart of both future public health and education strategies.
For us, this was huge. It reflected our long-term vision: A Scotland where every child and young person has access to the knowledge, tools and support they need to build positive sleep routine, giving them the best chance to thrive at home, at school and within their communities.
I’m incredibly grateful to all the MSPs who supported this motion. With cross-party backing, sleep education is gaining real momentum and edging closer to becoming a meaningful part of the curriculum.
Parliamentary Reception for World Sleep Day 2026
On 12 March, Sleep Action hosted our Parliamentary Reception, “Wake Up to Sleep on World Sleep Day 2026.” It was a packed room – MSPs, academics, pupils, and partners all came together to hear our young speakers share, with real clarity and confidence, how sleep education has shaped their learning and their lives. From testing out sleep‑deprivation goggles to stepping inside our teenage bedroom, the energy in the room was incredible.
For now, it’s crucial that our campaign does not lose momentum. Thanks to our many supporters, our support has more than quadrupled – but we’re just getting started. We are watching eagerly to see the outcome of the election in Scotland, and if any of the parties will rise to the challenge and answer our call for sleep education to be part of the core curriculum.
If you’d like to read more about our vision, you can find our Manifesto here. And if you or your organisation would like to learn more about our sleep training, please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you and look forward to being part of the VHS network.
Alyson O’Brien is Head of Service at Sleep Action
