with Laura McGhie

Available for 29 days

TEACHER SHORTAGES Education leaders say secondary schools are reducing timetables and cutting whole subjects from the curriculum due to a lack of specialist teachers. The Association of Directors of Education in Scotland says there are particular shortages in maths, science, design technology and computing, and that pupils are not accessing the full range of subjects in every year. Is your school cutting subjects? HEART CONDITIONS Danish footballer Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during a friendly against Ukraine on Sunday. The incident follows a previous cardiac arrest he suffered during a Euro 2020 match against Finland in 2021, after which he required an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to be fitted. Approximately one in seven people in Scotland live with cardiovascular disease and around 50,000 people are fitted with a pacemaker each year in the UK. Are you living with a heart condition? And has a pacemaker ever saved your life? KIDS' BIRTHDAYS In a recent article, one mum describes how children’s birthday parties are 'ruining her life' due to the frantic nature of them and the pressure they cause. According to research released earlier this year, the average cost of a child’s birthday party in the UK is now over £500. Laura speaks to that mum today to hear about her birthday party nightmares. Are children’s birthday parties taking over your life? PETS IN BED After a study claims folk wake up in a better mood and better rested if there is a dog in the bed too Pets in bed - yes or no?